Sri Chinmoy Iron Cove Race Report
10 May 2009: With two large fields participating in Mother's Day races elsewhere in Sydney, the remaining 287 of Sydney's runners gathered at Leichhardt Park to enjoy one of the city's simplest, most sublime pleasures- a ritual otherwise known as The Bay Run.
A cloudless dawn sky gave little hint of the deluge which was to inundate the course in the latter stages of the event. Participants in the shorter races- 4 km and 8 km- were fortunate to enjoy their pancakes in the sun, while most of the 16 km field enjoyed a considerably 'watered-down' recipe.
Happiest runner of the day was surely Audrey Hall. To complete her longest-ever race would have been achievement enough for the 16-year-old- to win the 16 km race outright in a sparkling new course record of 1:04:54 was astonishing, and she could hardly contain her joy.
Less than a minute behind the super-charged teenager was Christine Wong, returning to Iron Cove with a fabulous performance of 1:05:48 (also inside her own previous course record). Meanwhile, Linda Barwick clearly enjoyed her home turf to win the Women's 50-59 division in another record time of 1:24:58 (though outsprinted by 'Fastmo' Michael Bedward in the finish chute).
Outstanding in the men's 16 km race was Darren Moyle, whose 56:45 set the pace for others to follow. John Hughes and Brendan Davies both finished under the hour in a strong field. Winning the Men 50-59 division, Wayne Gregory's 1:01:45 was the 5th fastest time outright and a new age record by several minutes, while Derek Bolton took out the Men 60-69 top award.
Matt Webster flew home in the men's 8 km field in record time- 27:31, almost a minute clear of his rivals. Wayne Morgan claimed the main prize in the Men 50-59 with a snappy 35:28, while Englishman Rob Connolley continued his fine form in the Men 60-69 with another outstanding record-breaking run of 33:05.
Katie Kelly won the women's 8 km race by a long margin in 33:38, finishing just outside the top 10 men. Jayne McManis took out the Women 50-59 in 41:26, with the evergreen Kerry Bray bringing home gold and another course record in the Women 60-69 with her 43:17.
The 4 km race saw girls breaking course records in every division! Larissa Tichon set a new mark with her fabulous 14:18 in the Female 17 and Over; Corinne Fulford's 17:25 (Under 17) and Nadia Barrett's 21:00 (Under 13) both eclipsed all previous times on this course.
Nathan Barry outstripped his rivals with a flying 14:18. James Madden took out the Boys Under 13 race in 19:53, and Brendan Greene the Boys Under 17 in 19:17.
Full results are published (by category), and a photo gallery of the event.
