Nowra Athletics Club hosted the inaugural Covid Cross Country Championships last Saturday 5th September at Hollyhill. This event was conducted to provide some competition for athletes in light of all State events being postponed this season due to covid-19 restrictions.
It was hoped that the Championship event would create enthusiasm for on-course competition and inspire athletes to keep moving forward. Well, it certainly created a great deal of interest with a host of eager runners contesting the Championship events. Medals, and chocolate, on a beautiful course provided the perfect motivation.
In the 1km our youngest competitors ran hard and eagerly took their chocolate as just-reward. The field included Toby Graham, Hue and Ben Sproule, Malachy Martin and Aiden McLaren.
In the 2km Airlie Stevens took first place in a quick time; the fastest on course this season in fact, clocking 9.55 with Myra Betts a close second in 9.56. Elsie Proctor was third in 11.12. Olivia Rabey and Mali Mustapic also ran well for fourth and fifth. The boy’s winner was Trae Yenne in 10.54 which was also the fastest time this season at Hollyhill for males over 2kms whilst Noah Dyball was second in 11.01 and Will Anderson was third in 12.10. McPherson Turnbull was fourth and happy to receive a chocolate for his effort.
Running through for first place in the female 3km event was Emily McLaren in a time of 15.56 which was actually the fastest female time over 3kms recorded at Hollyhill this season. Anna Duncan crossed in second place in 16.48 and Lily Sproule was third in 18.33. Katie Martin and Julia Yenne were the other female competitors.
The boy’s division had eleven participants with first place going to Tom Duncan who clocked 13.36; which was the fastest male time over 3kms this season. Hamish McLaren ran well for second place in 14.02 and close on his heels was Cameron Baxter who recorded 14.10 for third. A shirtless Toby Dyball was fourth followed by Oliver Baxter. Harry Thomson outsprinted Travis Graham in the closing metres with dad Sam Graham coming in eighth. Lachlan Rabey, also adopted the shirtless look and showed strong form to the finish line. Rounding out the field was Micah Proctor in tenth and a smiling Andrew Havadjia was eleventh.
In the Medium course Ella Dyball took victory in the Female opens division. Ella clocked 25.21 in front of Dakota Farn who crossed in 26.14. Darcy Arnold, who has run with heart all season, finished third in 26.57 and Holly Bond was fourth in 27.13.
In the male’s event the champion was Cam Musgrove who ran the fastest on this course for the season; stopping the clock in 18.18. Running in second in 19.11 was Will Dyball whilst Harrison Baxter demonstrated his hunger for competition completing a gutsy run in 19.20 for third. Ethan Havadjia was fourth followed by Darcy Hopkins.
In the Masters race Erin Smart took line honours in 22:48. Clearly the event drew out the competitive spirit as this was also the quickest time a female has run this distance this year. Angela Bond was second in 27.59 and Annette Sampson was third in 28:46. Lucy Duncan, Alison Havadjia, Donna Johnson and Eva Moeller-Duhme completed the field.
Meanwhile in the male medium course event Marcus Baxter was first to cross the line in 21:02 followed closely by workhorse Peter Dooley who completed the course in 21:37. Third in 29.18 was Phil Duncan who took home a well-deserved medal after a consistent season. Next was Alex Arnold followed by ‘fisherman’ Bill Turnbull then John Price.
In the long course there were no female opens competitors however in the master’s class there were two participants with Sabina Hamaty taking the gold in 58:16 and an excited Leanne Hanson taking silver in 1:10:03.
In the male’s long course event Matt Lewis was the triumphant winner recording yet another fastest time for the season with 37:21. Brad Sawyers returned to long course again this week and earned a silver medal for his efforts; finishing in 37:50. Jasper Arnold was third in 43:13. Next home was Zac Havadjia followed by Dan O’Connor.
Long course master’s division was contested by the biggest field of the day with fifteen competitors. Scott Martin was the victor completing the two laps in 40.34. Next home, to take silver was Chris Berendt in 46.23 and third was Glen Mustapic in 47:30. Steve O’Connor ended his first season with the club with fourth place followed closely by Graham Anderson. Sixth was Club President Scott Johnson followed by Peter Khourey, then Richard Bosdyk, and Michael Duncan. Dean Bryce powered home for tenth followed by Rob Wood, David Hughes, Michael Brodnick, Milton Cox and Erich Moeller-Duhme.
The Covid Cross Country Championships were a great success complete with covid-safe medal allocations on our brand-new custom-made podiums; thanks to Jeff Power. Congratulations to all our medal winners. It was a fitting way to end the cross-country season. The club would also like to express their gratitude to the Havadjia family for the opportunity to run on their amazing cross-country course again this season. Their generosity is outstanding and Members are certainly spoiled with magnificent views from this course.
Whilst cross country has drawn to a close, the club hasn’t quite finished with distance running yet. Next Saturday Nowra Athletics Club will host the South Coast Three and Ten at Shoalhaven High School. Competitors can choose to compete in the 3km or 10km track events. First event will kick off at 2.30pm. There will be three age divisions for juniors, opens and masters. Competitors are required to provide their own lap counter.
Nowra Athletics Club covid safe plan will still apply at the track and everyone is requested to respect physical distancing, practice good hygiene and not bring anyone from outside the region.