XCR Round 9 - Burnley
We had an awesome Waverley turnout at Burnley this morning for the half marathon, with 21 runners and some past Waverley runners also running and watching. First away were the early starter group with Waverley singlets everywhere -Janice, Em, Petra and Jackie were involved.
Then the big main group were off half an hour later and quickly chased down those early starters. Leading out for Waverley was Smoothy (Dave Venour), who started very nicely. But unfortunately his knee niggle flaired up and he was out after a lap. Then Martin and House were reasonably close together for much of the run, before Martin gradually pulled away, and by enough to hold off the House’s usual fast last km. The House was carrying a calf strain and was using this as a test to see if he can pace the Melbourne marathon again next month. For Martin it was a pb, which is extraordinary at the young age of 50+. He is running so well.
After House, Tim Stickley put in one of his best run’s of the season to be our 3rd in. Then its was an interesting battle for 4th. Niamh was the early leader of this next group with Sally a bit behind and Daniel and Ernie just behind her. After a lap, Sally reigned in Niamh, and over the next lap Daniel gradually moved past her. We were waiting to see if Ernie could come through them all, but it wasn’t to be today with Daniel running a blinder (big pb), then Sally, Niamh and Ernie.
After them we had Slips finishing strongly to move past Peter, then Harvs, Smurf, Michael, Nick and Nickie. In the early starter group it was Janice, then Em. Petra and Jackie exchanged the lead a few times before Jackie finally prevailed.
Also we had Lizzie down from Gold Coast from the weekend running an awesome 89:38. It was great to see her, and she’ll be back for the Melbourne marathon next month. Also good to see Glenn Carroll running a solid 94:51, also getting ready for Melbourne Marathon.
In the 5K, Matt ran an excellent 19:35. A big pb and first time under 20 minutes. He is just smashing it this season.
There was an extraordinary run out the front with Mentone’s Seth O’Donnell running an amazing time of 62:05 to win by nearly 3 minutes. I think that isthe fastest Victorian run ever in our home state, and straight after he won the National Cross-Country in the mud in NSW last weekend. Today he was nearly 3 minutes ahead of recently returned Olympic Marathoner Liam Adams.
Our Waverley results:
Female Open
21.1km: Sally Lim 1:33:09; Niamh O’Reilly 1:35:04; Nickie Gibson 1:55:10; Janice Marston 1:56:21; Emily Stokes 1:58:21; Jacqueline Mitchell 2:13:22; Petra Spiteri 2:14:03;
Male Open
21.1km: Martin Spiteri 1:23:37; Stephen Paine 1:23:52; Tim Stickley 1:28:19; Daniel Spiteri 1:32:10; Ernest Lim 1:37:59; Shane Fielding 1:40:08; Peter Kormendy 1:42:00; Michael Harvey 1:42:27; Ewen Vowels 1:42:47; Michael Jansen 1:50:50; Nicholas Spiteri 1:53:51; David Venour;
Male 18
5km: Matt Harvey 19:35;
Full results are at: https://athsvic.resultshub.com.au/#
