The Sri Chinmoy 10km & 4km Fun-Runs have found a new home for the coming few years while works are underway at Acton Foreshore, with the lovely shaded picnic area overlooking Bimbi Beach at the eastern end of Diddams Close on Lake Ginninderra, proving to be a perfect start/finish location, and the relatively flat lakeside cycle path a scenic and pleasing route, conducive for fast times and the enjoyment of all from the swift of foot to pedestrian plodders. With the course this week being officially measured and certified, all course record times can now be claimed.
Travis Haslam ran a splendidly controlled race to claim the inaugural course record for the Men’s 10km of 33:47, proving too strong for the evergreen Craig Benson (34:32) and Liam Ryan (35:04). Jeff Grey couldn’t hide his class in winning the Male 50-59 by over 5 minutes with 38:51. While Ewan Thompson took out the Male 60-69 in 59:33, perhaps the standout race for the day among the men’s field came from Peter Clarke’s winning effort in the Male 70 and Over with a superb showing of 46:05. Also in the Over 70’s, Jim White completed his 49th Sri Chinmoy 10km or 4km Fun-Run, and his 99th over-all Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team event today, so look out for a celebration upon Jim’s next appearance.
The Women’s 10km competition was taken out by Michelle Cook with a fine 42:04, from 2nd place Bernie Connors (43:59) and 3rd Monique Andrea (44:08). The Female 50-59 saw Bron Adams leading home the category with her splendid 49:21; though the race of the day among the large women’s field was undoubtedly the fantastic run from Elizabeth Simpson to eclipse a strong group in the Female 60-69 with her dominant 47:08. Margaret Finnigan took home the Female 70 and Over prize with her 1:10:48. Congratulations to all!
Xavier Quispes arrived with intent this morning, and proceeded to set a new Course Record (and Boys Under 17 best time in the process) of 14:04 for the 4km out-and-back course following Ginninderra Creek to the north and return. Despite a strong run and taking the record for Males 17 and Over, Kael Hulin could not maintain the same pace as the younger Xavier, following for 2nd overall in 14:26. Alex Fillingham was best among the Boys Under 13 with an excellent showing of 16:37; Jennifer Kellett was fastest among all Females 17 and Over with 20:23; while Darcy Byrne was fastest in the Girls Under 13 category in 25:04.
