Bob Freeland took out his second handicap race for this season with his win in the Lindsay Kent Memorial Sealed Handicap 8km Championship race on Saturday. The day produced the first wintry conditions we have seen this season, resulting in a wet and slippery course around the back of the Stawell Aerodrome.
The race was run under sealed handicapped conditions (all runners starting at the same time) with Col Barnett and Jade Merrett setting a fast pace right from the start.
Being Merrett’s third run only for the season, after coming back from a foot injury, he could not hold onto the in-form Barnett, who pulled away to win his third straight Championship this year in a fast time of 31min 5sec, considering the adverse conditions.
After handicaps were applied, Bob Freeland claimed his second win for the season with Barnett in second place and Sharon Howden third.
Howden’s training schedule for the half marathon in Adelaide later this year is has produced some good form and she was first female across the line, taking out the female Championship section in a time of 39mins 11secs.
The juniors ran a 2km race with Karl Scott being the first junior home. Scott has shown great improvement this year, the result of consistent training and a passion for the sport. Scott’s time was 8mins 3secs. The first girl home was Greta Duke in a great time of 8mins 39secs.
After handicaps were applied Hugh Scott was the winner (again, he won the same race last year) from Alice Torpy and Thomas Blair was third.
The sub-juniors also ran a 2km race with Liam Scott finishing first over the line and also taking out the handicap section as well. Liam ran an excellent time of 9min and 5secs. Second was Daniel Op de Coul with Ellie Barnett third.