Weights Mitre 10 Handicap
Months of training for the upcoming Adelaide Marathon paid off for Gary Howden as he blitzed the field last Saturday in the Stawell Amateur Athletic Club Weights Mitre 10 Handicap.
Fine conditions greeted the small field of 15 senior runners who set off for the 10km race along the banks of the scenic Wimmera River.
Starting and finishing near the Sound Shell, the course headed 3km down stream and then back to the start, followed by an extra 2km leg upstream and returning to the start/finish again. A great course for the spectators as well as the runners.
Local runner Wayne Beddison was first away, closely followed by Dave Birkett.
The flat fast track was always going to suit the back markers, and with 3km to go it looked as if Suzie Ellis was the one to beat, but the fast finishing Gary Howden surged through the field to hit the front, continuing on to win by the big margin of 1min 5sec. Suzie Ellis hung on for second and Steve Baird ran well for third.
Suzie Ellis ran the fastest female time of 43min 35sec. Col Barnett ran the fastest time for the men with 37min 43sec.
A small field of 7 juniors lined up for the 3km out and back race. New runner Ilana Jorgenson showed her form to finish well ahead of the rest of the field, scoring a good win from Alice Torpy second and Emily Parnaby third.
Karl Scott ran the fastest time of 11min 19sec. Lucy Alexander ran the fastest girls time in 12min 32sec.
The sub-juniors ran a 2km race out and back race with young Chloe Jamieson holding on to win her first race with the club from the fast finishing Jack Butler, with Elly Barnett coming in third.
Jack ran the fastest time for the boys in 9min 11sec and the fastest girl was Heidi Sudholz in 9min 52sec.