The Preliminary Round of cross country 2019 season was held at Hollyhills on Saturday 6th April.
The Committee were elated to have over 100 runners turn up and compete across the distances at the newest course. A huge thank you to the Havadjia family for providing the club with the use of their property for cross country. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive with many comments “it’s a real cross country course”.
In the 1km event there were 14 competitors. Frost home was Evie Smart. Second was Rose Atkins and third was Finn Goddard. Next was Tom Smart followed by Elsie May, Josie Sproule, Alba Vaughan, Aiden McLaren, Ruby Vaughan, Hallie Wallace, Winter Bell, Malachy Martin, Frieda Hill and Maggie Vaughan. It was great to see some of our familiar little faces from Track and Field season on the cross country course. Well done to all our 1ker’s!
In the 2km event first home was Cameron Baxter. Second was Karly Goddard and third was Henry Hopperton. Next home was Lachlan Rabey followed by Lily Sproule then Anna Duncan, Harry Thomson and Tiffany Atkins.
In Division 2 the winner was Jo Hopperton followed by Brendan Goddard then Taj Goddard. Next home was regular cross country competitor Noah Dyball then Yvin Hill, Sachin Hill, Scott McLaren, Miller Bell, Heidi McLaren and Mia O’Mulane.
Jett Goddard was the winner of the 3km event followed by sprinter Lachlan Kaszonyi and record-breaking track star Erin Smart. Running in fourth was regular competitor Hamish McLaren followed by Tom Duncan then Ella Dyball who was freshly returned from the Australian Track and Feld Championships -still running! Seventh was Ruby Marshall then Alexis Charalambous; also fresh from the Australian Championships, then Charlotte Hopperton, Hunter Park and Darcy Arnold.
Division 2 winner was Alisha Mustapic with Kate Leung second and Emily McLaren third. Lachlan Rabey ran in fourth followed by Lucas Charalambous then William Anderson who has stepped up to the 3km distance this season. Next was Liana Charalambous then Levi Wallis, Katie Martin, Alison Havadjia, Harriet Urquhart, Darren Morris, Jem Balding, Tennille Wallis and Trish Bird. Crossing the line in 16th position was Christine Anderson who was running her inaugural cross country competition after supporting husband Graham and son Will for a number of seasons. Well done to Christine who competed with huge smiles and was encouraged home by son Will, running by her side. Summing up the 3km event was young Mali Mustapic who crossed the line supported by big sister Jade and doing exceptionally well after riding her pushbike to the venue.
Medium course was well supported with Division 1 won by Bradley Sawyers. Running in second was Will Dyball then third was Ethan Havadjia. Fourth was Dennis Smart then Lucas Johnson, Jasper Arnold and Marcus Baxter.
Division 2 winner was Chelsea Pascoe followed by Wilson French and Paul Duncan. Next across the line was Bridget Fairs followed by Alastair Urquhart, Phil Duncan, Angela Bond, Dean Bryce, Lucy Duncan and Frances Fairs.
Meanwhile Division 3 was taken out by Caitlyn Fairs followed by Angela Urquhart and Geoff Crook. Next home was longstanding and hardworking committee member Lisa Carroll followed by Gavin Urquhart then Alex Arnold. Property owner Andrew Havadjia crossed in seventh place, sprinting to the finish line, passing Di Court in the closing metres. Next home was Terry Bailey – great to see him back on the course doing what he loves, followed by fellow committee member John Price and last, but definitely not least was the beautiful Sharyn Bryce.
Long Course was supported by 12 runners. The convincing winner was Robin Vonk with Scott Martin taking second place and Mathew Schofield running in third. Fourth was Scott Johnson followed by the first female home Elisha Bell.
Next home was Richard Bosdyk followed by Andy Weller then Milton Cox. Crossing the line next was Rob Woods then David Hughes and rounding out long course was Rebecca Cooper and Sky Martin.
It was fantastic to see so many faces, returning and new, at our newest venue for our opening round of cross country for the 2019 season.
Next week cross country will be at Longreach Rd. We hope to see you there.