Canberra Day held a special significance this morning as the 2023 Australian edition of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run concluded its journey from Brisbane. The Torch was carried on its final leg by a small team, including ACT Peace Run Patron Andrew Leigh, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury and Federal member for the Canberra seat of Fenner; and long-time Peace Run supporter, ACT Attorney General, Shane Rattenbury. Both Andrew and Shane then joined the field for the 10km run.
Michael Daly showed the field a clean pair of heels in the men’s 10km race, winning in an impressive 33:12, from Daniel Carson’s 34:49 and Kodi Clarkson with 35:03. Aston Duncan set one of the fastest times ever in the Male 50-59 with his fine 37:39, taking this competitive category from Andrew Leigh’s 40:09 and Jeff Grey in 40:12. The closest finish came in the Male 60-69 where Kim Houghton’s 44:47 was just good enough to cover the fine run of 44:49 from Collin Acton; while Peter Badowski took out the Male 70 and Over with 1:02:18.
The women’s race saw a good win from Sarah King, winning in 40:31, with 2nd placed Lili Mooney not far behind in 40:50, from Rebecca Lin with 42:38. Sarah Fien was fastest in the Female 50-59s with an impressive 47:10, from Renee Wolford in 52:23 and Debra Kay with 53:03. Evergreen Clare Wall claimed the Female 60-69 crown with 49:17, from Pam Muston (52:32); while Julie Bell took home the Female 70 and Over award with 1:07:37.
The 4km race saw the largest field ever assembled at this event for this distance.
Daniel Randall was the overall winner from the Boys Under 17 category, in a sizzling 13:50 – a new age group record – ahead of a thrilling sprint finish in the Male 17 and Over, with Xavier Quispes (14:02) edging out Jonathan Fearn (14:03). Ashley Evans was a clear winner in the Boys Under 13 with 18:26.
Kim Wilmshurst was fastest finisher in the women’s race with 17:07; while Alli Westwood took out the Girls Under 13s in 22;21; and Isla Moore the Girls Under 17 with 23:10.
Our gratitude to Robert de Castella for presenting the awards this morning. At the conclusion of the awards presentations, the Peace Run team sang Sri Chinmoy’s Peace Run song, and on behalf of the Peace Run team, Susan Marshall, winner of last year’s Sri Chinmoy 3100 Mile Race (the world’s longest footrace), then presented the Peace Run Torch-Bearer Award to local running legend, Pam Muston. See the Peace Run website for a full report.
The Peace Torch was then symbolically handed to Mick Mudford, representing the Indigenous Marathon Foundation. Mick will now bring the Peace Torch to the Aussie Peace Walk, to be held around Canberra on the weekend of 25 & 26 March.
