St Andrews race ace is set for a Celtic connection

The event is a home countries distance international featuring teams from England, Wales and Scotland.

It is the only regular annual race in Great Britain over the internationally recognised ultra-distance of 100km (62.2 miles) and Scotland are hosts this year.

The selection is a top honour for Mullins who has continued to develop and improve as the season has progressed.

Perth’s North Inch park, with its 2.381km loop on the banks of the River Tay, will be the venue on Sunday, March 27 with the adjoining Bells Sports Centre acting as HQ.

For Mullins, a first Scottish vest follows a number of successes in 2015.

The St Andrews athlete won the 37-mile, Kintyre Way ultra and finished second at the 36.5 mile Speyside Way ultra.

Last August Mullins won the female title at the five-race Sweatshop Tour of Fife held over five days.

In April last year Mullins clocked a personal best of 2 hours 58 minutes 07 seconds at the London Marathon helping Fife AC to team silver.

The Fife AC athlete said: “I’m a little overwhelmed but extremely proud to have been selected to run for Scotland in the Anglo Celtic Plate 100km.

“I was a fun runner before coming to Scotland in 2007.

“Fife AC and the wider Scottish running community welcomed and encouraged me; I owe my development to Scotland.

“The part of me that runs is 100 perc ent Scot.

“I’m hugely grateful to Fife AC for helping me develop as a runner and especially to Ron Morrison who has coached me for the last few years.”

Fife AC’s US-based Andrew Lemoncello has also had reason to celebrate after he won the El Nino El Schmino 5k in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Andrew, who was brought up in Ceres, covered the tough, hilly course in Arizona at an altitude of 7000ft in an impressive 15.59.

Congratulations have also this week gone to the club’s Adam Scott, British Schools 3000m Champion and Celtic Games 800m Champion, who has been selected as one of just 14 young Scots to receive a grant from the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund.

Other athletes who have previously received grants from the fund as juniors include current World Champions Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill.