XCR Round 7 - Lakeside 10
We were lucky with the weather with rain either side of the event and very mild conditions - ideal for a fast run. We had solid numbers across the open ranks especially the open men, however despite this we had some bad luck and struggled with our team results. Highlights from the round were Leanne Ellis’s win in the U18 3km and many top ten results across our junior and over-age categories. Thanks to all those who brought snacks and to our two AV helpers, Jenny Arnold and Glenn Evans.
Open Women
Numbers were strong in the open women’s ranks with sufficient numbers to deliver results down to Div 5. Our Premier team, however, had a couple of athletes out due to flu so the team suffered finishing 6th. it was another great run from Janae Mackrell, 11th overall, in a time of 36 minutes and 23 seconds. Next in was Claire Hodgart then Abigail Thomas, Nardine Bainbridge with 45+ Brigitte Sneyders rounding out the team. In the other divisions, Div 3 was 3rd as was the Div 4 and the Div 5 was 7th. Thanks to U18 Lucy Cleveland and U20 Bella Keogh for running up in the open women’s to support the Div 3 team. In the over-age categories, Abbey Speakman was 7th in 40+, Brigitte Sneyders was 5th in the 45+ and in the Short Course Janice Hodgart was 1st.
The ladders are looking solid for our women especially the Div 3 who are in the promotion zone.
Ladders
Premier - 4th
Div 3 - 2nd
Div 4 - 3rd
Div 5 - 5th
Open Men
Despite bouncing back with very solid numbers we really struggled due to a big surge in numbers across other clubs. And, whilst we were looking very strong in the days leading up to the race, we had a few athletes, critical to success for the Premier team, withdraw due to sickness and injury. This significantly affected all our teams from top to bottom. The Premier team was 8th with Liam Cashin returning to form finishing 4th in a time of 29 minutes and 24 seconds. Abdi Haji Ali, aslo finding form, and coming in second followed by Brandon Muscat with another great run. Nathan Pearce was 4th then Cody Shanahan with Dan Dunstone rounding out the team and making his season debut in Premier. The Div 3 was 8th with the Div 5 9th, Div 6 6th and the Div 7 11th. In the overage categories, Peter Boyle was 9th in the 40+.
With a very large buffer in the Premier team, this result will still see them with a 16 point lead ahead of Ballarat Region, but in the lower divisions we have lost touch with the promotions.
Ladders
Premier - 1st
Div 3 - 5th
Div 5 - 4th
Div 6 - 4th
Div 7 - 8th
Juniors
Despite the small numbers in our juniors so there was not much action in the team’s results, however, there were some very impressive individual results. In the women’s U18 Leanne Ellis was first of all age groups in the 3km event, finishing in a time of 9 minutes and 55 seconds. In the Men’s U20 10km race, Jackson Wright had a great run finishing 5th with a PB and a time of 33 minutes and 34 seconds. In the Men’s U18 Emerson Arnold ran a big PB also (33 minutes, 24 seconds) to finish in the top ten (9th) and Bon Martin was mid-field in his first 10km race. in the Men’s U16 3km Ryder Deans was 9th, finishing in a time of 9 minutes, 32 seconds, which is a club record in the U15 road race.
Congratulations to Nicole Singh in her first race with the club in the 3km race.