Eighteen of Nowra’s best athletes travelled to Canberra on the weekend to compete in the Athletics ACT Summer Series No 10 at Woden Park. The squad of athletes earned plenty of PB’s along with race experience and as always, there was fantastic Club spirit and comradery.
In the 800m, the first event on the program, Cam Musgrove led the race out through a quick first lap setting a cracking pace and it wasn’t until the closing metres of the race that he was overtaken. Hayden Todd of Ginninderra eventually took the win in 1.52.72 followed closely by Callum Burns from Weston Creek in 1.52.97 whilst Cam Musgrove was third in a new PB of 1.53.48; just reward for those race efforts. In the same race Will Dyball raced well to finish 10th in 2.00.73.
In heat 3 of the 800m Denzel Atkinson made a stunning debut at competition level to finish 6th in 2.19.09 with Cooper Barrett not far behind in 7th place in 2.21.00. Heat 4 saw newcomer Darcy Davis run a 6 second PB for 2nd place in a time of 2.24.96 whilst hardworking Peter Dooley looked strong to finish 5th in 2.29.14.
In heat 5 Ella Dyball was impressive in her first run on the track in quite some time, and clocked 2.33.98 for 4th.
Many of the 800m runners returned to the track later in the program to contest the 400m distance. Cam Musgrove had a solid run for a new PB of 50.53. Will Dyball also completed the double and finished 4th in his heat in 55.23. Cooper Barrett backed up and earned himself a new 400m PB of 1.02.40 whilst Denzel Atkinson put in another sound run for 4th place in 1.03.38. Peter Dooley, a fantastic role model for all runners, pushed hard in heat 5 and ran in 6th in 1.08.63.
Also challenging the 400m was Erin Smart, another inspiring ‘masters athlete’ who always demonstrates passion and hunger for personal improvement. Despite there only being two athletes in Erin’s heat, which limited the ‘race feel’, she still strode out, racing the clock and crossed in 58.52. Ruby Marshall also put in a great run in her heat crossing in 2nd place in 1.10.00.
In the sprints Lachlan Kaszonyi tucked another 100m PB under his belt with a time of 11.16 in heat 1. Charlie Heidke took victory in heat 3 in 12.12 whilst Matt Reid finished 5th in 12.74. Erin Smart clocked a new PB with 12.90 in her 100m event and in heat 7 Alisha Mustapic took to the track with a good time of 14.12 for 3rd place. In heat 6 Max Marshall took the win in a new PB of 12.48, which was also a National Qualifier time. In the same heat Riley Power was equal 2nd in 12.51 and Mark O’Leary earned himself a PB of 14.47 in 6th place.
Backing up in the 200m Lachlan Kaszonyi ran another PB as he finished 5th in 22.72. Charlie Heidke ran well to place 2nd in heat 3 in a time of 24.84 and Matt Reid also performed strongly to run in 4th in 26.09. Erin Smart continues to mix it with the ‘young runners’ and clocked 26.61 for 5th place in heat 5. Ruby Marshall demonstrated her sprinting prowess in heat 7 and took 4th place in 29.51 whilst in heat 8 Max Marshall took the win again with another PB and another National Qualifier of 25.59. Mark O’Leary also ran well in his second event of the program, to finish 3rd in a time of 31.11.
The 3000m saw Nowra take the trifecta with Harrison Baxter taking the win in 10.35.95 after leading the race the entire way. Denzel Atkinson was second in 11.15.55 and young Oliver Baxter was third in 11.30.47.
It was a great day of racing for all of the Nowra athletes who should be proud of their performances on, and off the track.