Many insisted that last year’s (2023) Sri Chinmoy Royal National Park trail races were held in the best conditions ever. That is, until this year (2024)…
Superlatives were being bandied about amongst the timing crew at the finish line this morning, yet none came close to capturing the quintessence of perfection embodied in the rare alignment of the locale, weather (agreeable humidity, pleasing temperature, friendly percentage of cloud and foliage cover, slightness of breeze, optimum oxygen and negative ion quotient), season, occasion, purpose and outcome – a happy harmony of outer beauty and inner opportunity – for it is one thing to be blessed with perfect conditions, and quite another for such a large group of diverse people to so perfectly harvest the manifold bounty of those perfect conditions.
That this would be a special, memorable day was confirmed by the first 2 runners across the finish line – Oliver Fyfe broke his own record from last year by running 19:56 to win the Boys Under 13s in the 5km race, finishing behind only Xavier Brown, who won the Boys Under 17 (and the race outright) with a new BU17 record time 19:37.
Emma Felsman ran with all her heart to win the Girls Under 13 (and the female race outright) with a wonderful run of 24:50; while Rada Mulhere won the Female 17 and Over in 28:07; and Aleix Vazquez took the Male 17 and Over with 22:52.
The best performance in the 10km race was offered by Adelaine Ho, who split the 1st and 2nd placed males with her winning 44:29, just behind Justin Verus’ outright win of 44:18, and edging out 2nd male Luke Carey’s 44:30. John Hayes was fastest in the M50-59 with 50:54, though overshadowed by the faster M60-69 category, where Michael Wilding with 47:26 had his work cut out to hold off 2nd placed Kieron Blackmore with 47:42.
Behind Adelaine in the women’s race, Esther Au was next with 49:24, with Corinne Buchan taking 3rd in 52:50. Michele Leeming took 1st place in the F50-59 with 53:44 ahead of a close finish for 2nd and 3rd between Jakki Agostino (55:09) and Louise Brewer (55:12). Joan Feeney was just behind these ladies, winning the F60-69 with an impressive 55:25; while Mieke Masselos again shone in the F70+ with her 1:07:21.
By far the most popular distance today proved to be the Half-Marathon, and why not? The 10km and 5km runners only saw and enjoyed portions of the delightful Lady Carrington Dr, while the Half-Marathoners got to savour its full distance and glory – and met with all the drink station attendants along the way – in both directions.
Peter Richardson (1:24:30) held off 2nd placed Christopher Winterbourne (1:24:46), with Claudio Matoso completing the podium placings with 1:29:31. Meanwhile, Stephen Barlow had taken out 1st M50-59 with an swift 1:27:19. Geoff Barnes was fastest among the M60-69 in running a super 1:37:31, while Ian Garrett took out the M70+ with 2:20:31.
Em O’Sullivan won the women’s race comfortably, her 1:30:37 placing her 6th outright in a dominant display. Emma Overmyer (1:46:23) and Kathy Costa (1:47:38) were much closer in the race for 2nd and 3rd placings. Nadine Serman led a close field in the F50-59 category, her 2:00:02 good enough to keep her ahead of the chasing pack of Donna-Leigh Jackson (2:00:32), Kathy Johnsun (2:00:41), Bron Evans (2:01:01) and Belinda Louey (2:01:44). Pamela Blaikie won the F60-69 with her excellent showing of 2:22:19.
The marathon runners made the most of everything – their trip to Royal National Park, Nature’s beauty, the provisions of the drinks stations and their own capacity to enjoy, to push, to struggle, to suffer, to surmount and to triumph.
Luke Jeffrey looked the most composed of all the field, his calm demeanour belying his winning time of 3:07:32. Next home was M50-59 winner, Akira Suzuki with 3:20:40. Then another Male Under 50, Jason Hweeler, with 3:23:11, followed by another two M50-59 runners, Soonchul Shin with 3:23:40 and Sung Hun Lee’s 3:28:29. Jianwei Liu took 3rd place Male Under 50 with 3:29:58. Leon Barnard was 1st home in the M60-69 with 43:14:40; while Rod Rainey established a new Male 70 and Over course record with his fine run of 5:03:45.
Susan Marshall won the women’s race with 3:48:54, from Akiko Akashi with 4:05:32 and Ellie Wiseman ’s 4:41:45; while Hiroko Vasilas ran 4:18:01 to take out the F50-59 category, from Yvonne Richards’ 4:21:02 and Margriet Wooldridge with 4:49:57.