It was a day for race records, especially in the annual 14 km cross-country race of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, held in Centennial Park on Sunday 12 December 2010.
Records tumbled in three of the four age group categories represented in the race. Outright winner Benoit Le Caloch from France, toppled the old time with his superb front-running 52:42, well ahead of David Barr in 2nd place in 54:09. Third across the line was women's winner, Laura James with a sensational run of 58:32, five minutes clear of her nearest rival. Witold Krajewski set an excellent new mark in the Men 60-69 with 1:01:11, placing him 5th amongst all male participants. Peter Pommer took out the Men 50-59 category in 1:08:00.
Runners found the going quite challenging, especially on the second 7 km lap as Summer seemed to finally arrive in earnest – water stations around the course were very well patronised. Smiles were aplenty at the finish line though, as pancakes were dispatched with enthusiasm.
Earlier, the 7 km race saw the largest field of the day, with 212 runners completing the scenic loop around Centennial Park. Outstanding run of the race came from Tony Moran, who was 4th across the line in winning the Men 50-59 category in a new record – 26:05. William Kelsey (24:48) drew away from Lee Cook (25:09) and Jak Bukovinsky (25:12) to win the race in style. Keith Edwards led home the Men 60-69 in 40:02.
Nancy Newsome was a convincing winner of the Women's race in 27:26 (7th overall). Marion McAllister took out the Women 50-59 category in 34:11, and the evergreen and ever-enthusiastic Dot Siepmann the Women 60-69 in 46:45.
Davor Zailac continued his winning form in the shorter 4 km race with 15:57, from second-placed Max Jameson, whose 16:23 won him the Boys Under 13 main award. Sophie Gocher took the prize in the corresponding Girls Under 13s in 17:48; Charly Rose Iron won the Girls Under 17 in 18:42 and Diana French the Women 17 and Over in 19:30. First-placed in the Boys Under 17 was Nathan Salys in 24:08.
Full results for the three distances are published, and a photo album from around the course. Sri Chinmoy Sydney Races will resume with a 10-event series in 2011.
The assembled runners were soon registered, race-readied and toeing the start line; half marathoners first, then 7km and finally 4km. The staggered starts and looping course provided a magnificent spectacle of runners snaking their way simultaneously along the dirt tracks, numerous ovals, tree lined boulevards, lake side embankments, pine needled forest trails and sprawling grassy expanses. I know from my own training runs that this sheer variety of the course brings a great freshness to the mind and a resulting spring in one's stride. It is favourite for many and was a joy to behold this morning.
* Catherine Barlin, 16:51, 4 km Girls Under 13
Kenneth Wong was a clear winner in the 2 mile race in 12:16, from Benjamin Moss in 12:42; while Stephanie Harris, racing in the Girls Under 17 category was first girl home in 16:03.
Many familiar faces could be spotted amongst a crowd enriched by a host of first-time helpers, eager and enthusiastic to be part of this wonderful sport we all love so much. As these familiar faces passed by I reflected upon the friendships that exist without names; friendships forged by smiles and encouragement, the mutual respect between athletes and volunteers, strengthened through the shared experience of all the things we love about running – the uncluttered minds, the camaraderie of a race, the serenity of mother nature, the rejuvenation of deep breaths, the meditative cadence of resolute footfalls, feats of uncompromising determination, sheer will power in the face of adversity, the achievement, the relief. How lucky we all are to be part of this sport of sports!
Congratulations to all finishers. Despite the heat, new course records were established in the Half-Marathon by Magda Karimali in the Women Under 50 (1:26:08), Ginta Viliunas in the Women 50-59 (1:54:56), and Carl Barker in the Men 50-59 (1:27:07). Edward McMaster also bettered his own course record in the 7 km Men Over 70 category with his 45:23. Our special gratitude to Sara Edwards, a competitor in the Half-Marathon who also happens to be a doctor, who interrupted her own race for half an hour to attend to a fellow athlete in distress.
