It comes around fast doesn’t it!
Yes, race 2 of the 2014/15 season is this Sunday with the weather predicted to be perfect.
Hope to see you there – and to inspire you ……..
A few club members went down to the Melbourne Marathon on Sunday and competed in the various events (3, 5 10km, 1/2 or full marathon) – here’s a race summary from the organisers –
Box Hill’s Nikki Chapple ran the second fastest time by an Australian female this year to win the women’s race in 2:31.05 and earn $15,000. Nikki was coming off a horror last start marathon in Moscow at the world titles last year where she didn’t break three hours and couldn’t believe how enjoyable her hometwon race was. “It felt almost like a Sunday morning training run,” she said.
South Melbourne mum of two Sinead Diver capped off a huge winter season with an incredible 2:34.15 marathon debut. Having moved to Australia from Ireland 12 years ago, the 37-year-old dual citizen must now decide which country she will represent. “Whatever opportunity I got, I’d take it,’’ she said. “It would be such an honour to represent either country.”
NSW marathon debutant Julia Degan was third in 2:43.52 and was one of 19 women to break three hours. A total of 224 runners broke three hours. Degan has been doing triathlons for the past three years but returned to running this year after breaking her collarbone falling off her bike while training.
Kenyan Pius Dominic Ondoro backed up to win his second Melbourne Marathon. The 26-year-old, from Eldoret in Kenya’s Rift Valley, was one of six Africans who went through halfway in 66min 23secs but he picked up the pace in the last five kilometres and won in 2:11.30, just 43 seconds off last year’s record.
Ballarat’s Duer Yoa was first Australian home clocking 2:20.54 in his debut marathon. Yoa caught the lead Africans at about 13km and ran with them until 23km before fading.
Ironically first Victorian home was Japanese runner Hirotaka Tanimoto, who pipped Yoa on the line. Tanimoto has been staying in Bright at the home of inaugural Melbourne Marathon winner Bill Scott. He is registered with Doncaster, so claims the state title.
The Melbourne race was the largest marathon and half marathon in Australia – both in terms of entrants and finishers. All up 6415 runners finished the Medibank Melbourne Marathon, while 9949 finished the Flight Centre half marathon. A late rush of entrants saw the 10km field hit 7031 finishers on the day.
Box Hill veteran Steve Dineen (66.42) and Adelaide youngster Casey Wood (73.29) won the Flight Centre Half Marathon. Steve Moneghetti, now a sprightly 52, was fourth in 69.43.
St Kilda’s Stewart McSweyn (31.01) won a close tussle for line honours in The Coffee Club 10km. Brighton’s Karinna Fyfe (35.34) held off ACT’s Clare Ashworth (35.51) in the women’s race.
Jacob Gifty (16.02) and Alisha Ayres (16.11) were first across the line in the Asics 5km event.
Local nutrition and fitness expert Rob Paterson won the wheelchair race in a time of 2:15.07.
The courage award this year went to Manny Karageorgiou, who has been having chemotherapy for the past four months, and has a stemcell surgery next month. Manny, who is one of 10 Spartan Legends crossed the line for the 37th consecutive time in 5:14.31. The oldest legend Pete Battrick missed the 7hr cutoff but crossed the line in 7hr21min.
Our oldest marathoner Antony Martin completed the course in 6:46.16. Antony is 86 years old.
Yass mum Fleur Flannery celebrated moving up to the 45-49 age category and just missed Colleen Stephens’ age group record. Flannery clocked 2:53.23.