A large collection of Nowra Athletics Club members enjoyed the picturesque, yet challenging course of Willandra on Saturday 20th May when Victory Runners extended an open invitation to join them on their home course. All races started at 3pm for a mass start with all runners heading off on go.
In the 2km event, Hendrix Blinksell was the first Nowra athlete home clocking 9:18. Ezekiel Blinksell was 2nd in 10:02 whilst Mia Musson was 3rd in 10:53. Darcy Binney was 4th in 11:27, Malachy Martin was 5th in 12:4 and Winter Bell was 6th in 12:47.
In the 3km event there were 17 Nowra athletes. Hugh Thirlwall was the 2nd athlete to cross the line, but was the 1st Nowra athlete home, running in behind Jake Berritt of Kembla Joggers. Hugh took the winning points in 11:17. Airlie Stevens was the 5th athlete to finish but was 2nd for Nowra in 12:2. Training partners Evie Binney and Lana Crawford ran in next for Nowra, both clocking 12:32. Kai Thirlwall was a smidgen behind, crossing in 12:33 and Macarthur Davis was hot on his heels in 12:34. Tom Brookes used his long (sprinter) legs to finish 7th in 12:4 and Madeline Oke was 8th in 13:27. The 2nd half of the field was taken up by Emerson Boatswain, Elizabeth Davis, Wyatt Binney, Cathleen Chang, Noah Dyball, Lhiam Crook, Geoff Crook, Charli Binney and Miller Bell.
There were 16 Nowra competitors in medium course. The distance was taken out overall by Victory Runners athlete Joel Harlor in 13.55 but Cameron Baxter had a strong run to cross 2nd in 14:44. Scott Martin was the 2nd Nowra athlete home in 17:14 and Emily McLaren 3rd in 18:34. Olivia Oke was next home in 20:57 followed by Paul Duncan then Callum Armstrong. Ryder Monkerud was next to finish then Angela Bond, William Anderson, Elisha Gilmour and Alex Arnold followed. The happy group of four of Sharyn Bryce, Natasha Toms, Katie Martin and Sky Martin crossed the finish line in close succession before the field was rounded out by Alison Havadjia.
Long course had 15 contenders with 9 of those competitors from Nowra Athletics Club. 1st place for Nowra went to Scott Armstrong in 35:09. Jasper Arnold took the 2nd podium position in 35:26 and Elisha Bell took 3rd in 37:43. Perry Strand was 4th in 38:51 followed closely by Dean Bryce who crossed in 39:49 and Scott Johnson who clocked 40:08. Martin Bell was 7th in 41:57 whilst Annette Sampson was 8th in 43:34 and Peter Khourey was 9th in 46:02.
The Open Day also offered additional distances of 6km and 10km. In the 6km event there were 11 athletes with 4 representatives from Nowra. It was a close race where the lead group stayed together for most of the race. Nic McGill crossed over the line in 2nd place, hot on the heels of Kembla Joggers athlete James Brewer. James took 1st in 21.11 whilst Nic was 2nd in 21.13. Hamish McLaren was 5th overall, and 2nd for Nowra, in 22.49. Harrison Baxter was 6th in 24.07 and Gavin Dyball was 9th in 29.28.
There were just 3 competitors in the 10km event and the outright winner was Nowra’s Graham Anderson in 52.23.
Thanks to Victory Runners for the opportunity to run at Willandra ahead of the upcoming State Championships, which will take place there on June 17th.