Living in Canberra, we are spoiled. Sometimes it takes a runner visiting from out of town, or from overseas, to remark – “What amazing trails you have here!” or “How I wish we had such a lovely run around the lake in my town!” – to remind us how fortunate we are. Truth be told, the Sri Chinmoy 10km Recreational Running Course could have been located in a dozen different places around 3 alternate lakes: all would draw similar exclamations of wonder and praise.
Next year, 2024 will mark the 40th anniversary of the first public Sri Chinmoy 10km Fun-Run on this Acton course, so a celebration is surely on the cards. Nevertheless, each time we run is a celebration, an offering of gratitude for this simplest expression of wellbeing, happiness and progress – of life.
The stand-out performance today capped a sensational year for Trevor Jacobs, who in winning the 10km M70+ in 49:09, smashed an age group record which had stood for 18 years, and collected his 7th age group record from as many Sri Chinmoy races in 2023! (the Lennox Gardens 5-mile race, today's Acton 10km, and all 5 of the Sri Chinmoy Canberra Trail Series events).
Zac Rosser led the 10km men’s race from the get-go and never looked back, running confidently to win in 34:33, from Andrew Lake’s 35:33 and 3rd placed Daniel Cook in 37:10.
4th and 5th places outright were taken by the first 2 women, with Alexandria Nicholls (37:13) and Rachel Waters (37:41) eating up the hills to run the fastest times on this course in several years, followed by 3rd placed Sarah King in 41:12.
Debra Kay claimed the glory in the Female 50-59 category with 49:14, from Sarah Fien’s 50:57, and Jodi Coppin’s 57:06. In the F60-69, Clare Wall reigned supreme with 54:03, ahead of Liz Simpfendorfer with 55:01 and Manqin Xu in 58:44.
In the Male 50-59, Andrew Carson was swiftest on the day in 41:50, from Andrew Leigh MP’s 42:03, and Andrew Dempster with 42:42. Keith Bennett took out the M60-69 with 50:09, with Peter Simpfendorfer in 55:02 and Chris Lamb in 55:52.
The 4km race was fast (but not furious), with Daniel McIernan gliding to victory from the Male 17+ category in 15:06, ahead of Dominic Torley’s 15:41 (also taking 1st place in the Boys Under 17). Alli Welsford won the female race outright from the Girls Under 13s in 20:49, just edging out Sibylla Muecke’s 20:51, which was fastest of the F17+ category.
