Veteran runner Bob Freeland scored a gutsy win in last Saturday’s Stawell Amateur Athletic Club 5km Stephen Baird handicap.
Running off 4 minute 30 seconds, Freeland quickly took the lead from front markers Gary Saunders and Axel Meumann over the difficult, hilly course.
Several minutes behind, Gary Howden was also performing well, with mid field runners Kelvin Mills, Keith Lofthouse and back marker Nathaniel Warren also showing good form.
With a very long and difficult hill up to the finish, Freeland had push himself the limit, as the field was gaining ground by the minute.
Warren was closing fast and Nat Watson was also making up ground rapidly, but Freeland managed to dig deep and cross the line a minute in front of Warren, with Watson coming home in third place.
Nathaniel Warren ran the fastest time of 19 minutes 6 seconds, with Susie Ellis the fastest female in 22 minutes 25 seconds.
The juniors also tackled the same 5km course, with front marker Charlotte Hilbig taking the final hill in her stride to claim an easy victory over Ebony Darnell, with Tobias Blair third.
Somer Darnell took out the sub-junior section.