With some other large races this morning occupying a good number of Sydney’s runners, there was no crushing crowd to contend with at registration, or around the course – no jostling at the start line or elbowing around the bends. The overall atmosphere was civil and polite, even restrained – apart from the front runners in each distance of course, who posted some exceptional times.
The outstanding performance in the Half-Marathon came at the top end of the age groups, with bounding Korean runner Tae Bong Kang posting a new course record in the Male 70 and Over with a superb showing of 1:42:24. Tetsundo Kato took out the M60-69s with his 1:58:22; while Lucas Chang came out on top of the M50-59 with a fine run of 1:34:01, ahead of Jeremy Smith in 1:37:16 and Mark Tisdale with 1:40:20.
James Costello led from the outset and was never challenged, winning the race outright by over 5 minutes in 1:23:40, from Jonathan Nesher’s 1:29:01 and Oli Allin with 1:29:42.
The women’s race was won from the F50-59 category with a superb performance from Britt Wielander of 1:35:05, over 6 minutes ahead of the winner of the Female Under 50s, Bronwyn Lee who won her category in 1:41:25, from Katie Bradley’s 1:45:37 and Madeline Greenhill with 1:56:40. The other podium placings in the F50-59 were taken by Michelle Fitzpatrick with 1:59:34 and Nadene Serman in 2:04:36. Teresa Setoue took out the F60-69s with her 2:20:58.
Already owning course records in the Half-Marathon at this event for both the F50-59 and F60-69 categories, the amazing Raewyn Harlock had a shot today at the shorter 7km distance, and duly broke a 12-year-old record with her fleet of foot 33:36, finishing right up among the leaders in all categories. Francis Bowman took out the Female 70 and Over in 54:51, and Cathie Sherrington the F50-59 in 44:27. The only two female runners to come in ahead of Raewyn were the Under 50s winner, Corinne Buchan in 33:01 and 2nd placed Valeria Angulo with 33:12. 3rd placing went to Rebecca Dracup with her 35:50.
The men’s 7km was a race against the clock for Oliver Barden who had only himself for company as be blitzed the one-lap course in 26:46. Chris Vallely led the rest of the field with a fine 29:28, from Ben Hanley in 30:49. David Carson, in the M50-59s, took the category’s main prize with 32:06; Kieron Blackmore claimed the glory in the M60-69 with 32:36; while John Bowman was best for the 70 and Over men with 47:07.
In the 4km race, it was Thomas Berg who showed the field his clean pair of heels, winning with a rapid 14:59 to take the Boys Under 17 and the race outright. Michael Kovacs won the Male 17 and Over cohort. Emma Felsman ran a superb race from the Girls Under 13s, winning in 17:50; while Alisa Lai took home the top prize in the Female 17 and Over with 18:04.
