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Birmingham ends Dents reign, Tamsett defends Bolt title
Olympic 5km representative Collis Birmingham finally ended a three-year dominance of the Asics Bolt by Martin Dent in near record time to claim his first Asics Bolt title, while Sydney youngster Lara Tamsett upstaged Australia’s best in Benita Johnson to successfully defend her title.
Noosa’s Super Saturday served up a smorgasbord of sporting fare, under clear blue skies and in front of thousands of spectators and in typical Bolt style, the pace was fast and furious from the gun on the four lap course with one of the best fields assembled in recent times.
As the gun fired so to did the crack field that contained 2007 Bridge to Brisbane winner Scott Westcott, Australian 1500m and 5000m junior champion Ryan Gregson, Beijing Olympic 1500m representative Jeff Riseley, marathon man Lee Troop and American Bobby Curtis.
Over the four laps there were a number of lead changes and the big pack picked up the pace at the half way mark, Troop being the first casualty off the back.
“Everyone had a go and it was one of the quicker ones I’ve done,” said Birmingham post race.
Birmingham didn’t take the lead until late in the race but admitted that was when he needed it - out kicking Jeremy Roff and Curtis to storm to the finish.
“I’ve podiumed here a lot and after finishing second to Marty (Dent) last year this is a sweet victory,” said Birmingham.
“This is one of Australia’s biggest road races, so one of my biggest wins,” he added.
Birmingham will now head to a training camp in Falls Creek in preparation for the World Championships in Berlin next year.
Twenty-year-old university student Lara Tamsett held her nerve to outrun Beijing Olympic representative Benita Johnson in the women’s race.
Johnson won the 2002 Asics Bolt title and holds the course record of 15:22.
Tamsett not only handled the pressure of racing her idol but took the brave move of surging in the final lap. Johnson was unable to respond and Tamsett crossed the line first taking an easy win in the end.
“Benita has such an amazing pace, I really had to watch her and make sure I surged in the final stretch, it was amazing running beside her, I was so paranoid she was going to come flying past,” said Tamsett.
“Normally in a race like this I would bolt at the halfway mark but this time I decided to leave it till the last lap, I knew I had the fuel in the tank so I was lucky because as you know it can disappear in a second,” she added.
Lisa Corrigan produced her best result in the race rounding out the podium ahead of Beijing Olympian Donna MacFarlane who made her debut at Noosa.
Results
Men
1. Collis Birmingham 13:57
2. Jeremy Roff 13:59
3. Bobby Curtis 14:01
4. Martin Dent 14:04
5. Ben St Lawrence 14:05
Women
1. Lara Tamsett 16:47
2. Benita Johnson 16:19
3. Lisa Corrigan 16:32
4. Donna McFarlane 16:38
5. Tamara Carvolth 16:55
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