Race 2 of the Sri Chinmoy Canberra Trail Series, the “Stromlo Strides” explores Stromlo Forest Park, including tracks and trails up and around the mountain, as well as the world-class, purpose-built grass Robert de Castella cross-country circuit. As the Series continues, so the distances gradually increase, with the ‘long’ race today increasing from 10km to 15.4km, while the ‘middle’ distance crept up from 5km to 6.3km.
Dry and warm conditions made for some exceptional times across the age categories, starting at the front with men’s and women’s winners – Daniel Carson and Brittany Harriden in the 15.4km, and Kodi Clarkson and Sarah King in the 6.3km – extraordinarily, all setting new course records on the morning.
In the 15.4km race, Brittany Harriden ran an awe-inspiring race in a league of her own, contending against the top men throughout, finishing 5th overall with her superb 1:05:23, 12 minutes clear of runner-up Bethany Davis with 1:17:49 and 3rd placed Cassie Cohen’s 1:18:07.
Marnie Shaw was the fastest among the F50-59 with a fluent 1:21:05, with Natalie Wood next in 1:29:06 and Narelle Smyth in 1:29:50; while Kym Greaves took out the F60-69 with her fine 1:32:19, ahead of a most welcome return to racing from Pam Muston, who clocked 1:34:32.
Daniel Carson ran a solo race, clearing away any overnight cobwebs along the course so the rest of the field could enjoy an unimpeded journey. He certainly cleared away any cobwebs from his own form, his finish of 58:30 making him one of only a few runners in the history of this event to eclipse the one hour barrier. The next finisher, Mark Bourne was a full 3 minutes back, in 1:01:48, ahead of Jasen Higuchi’s 1:02:11.
Aston Duncan finished 3rd in the opening race, the “Cooleman Clip”, but turned the tables today with a focussed 1:06:50 to win the M50-59, though pushed by David Sitzky’s 2nd-placed 1:07:03, with Cooleman winner Ben Crabb not far adrift in 1:08:56. Goulburn’s Sir Kerry Baxter returned to his best, to set a new M60-69 course record with a superlative run of 1:16:47, ahead of Mark Duncanson’s 1:25:06. Peter Badowski, as he so often does, won the M70+ with 1:57:52.
Kodi Clarkson continued his preeminence in the men’s middle distance races at this Series in recent years, again breaking his own course record in the 6.3km race from last year by a minute, to win in an exceptional 20:41, clear of the field by nearly 4 minutes, from Lachlan Dow’s 24:24 and Thomas Dempster with 24:34.
Mick Hanbury ran a blinder to win the M50-59 with 26:37, from a tight race for 2nd and 3rd between Florian Geier (29:18) and Andrew Dempster (29:29). Another close tussle was fought out in the M60-69, where Alan Osborne (32:20) did enough to hold off Peter Thorley’s 32:38. Rod Harrod returned to the winner’s podium, fastest among the M70+ with 38:53.
Sarah King is in superb form at present, placing 6th outright in a competitive field, also breaking the old course record by a minute with her superb 25:33. 2nd place was taken by Italy’s Simona Martorana in 27:20, ahead of 3rd placed Lisa Winssinger’s 28:08. Jie Zhou, for the second race in a row, took out the F60-69 with her excellent 35:38, significantly ahead of all the F50-59 field, led by Elizabeth Scott’s 36:23, from Leanne Haughton’s 39:06. Alice Jones was 2nd place in the F60-69 with 39:16.
The one-lap 2km circuit of the Robert de Castella cross-country track was dominated by the younger runners, with the race won outright by 12-year-old sensation, Saleena Ramboer in 7:36. However, because Saleena will turn 13 next month, she is racing for the Series in the Girls Under 17 category, opening the way for the Girls Under 13 to be won by Rui Bluett-Jones with 8:12, from Samantha Ramboer’s 8:23 and Maddie Giumelli with 8:44. Next home was Boys Under 13 winner, Angus Botticchio with 8:52, ahead in this category of Ashton Osbourne with 9:01 and Alexander Ritchie in 9:05. Caitlin Kaufmann, running in her first race, took out the Female 17 and Over category – and a new age group record – in 9:44; while Raj Bedi won the Male 17 and Over with 11:17; and Rhys Anschaw the Boys Under 17 in 14:33.
