28.10.2008

Quality fields to challenge for Bolt titles

A long time Noosa tradition, the ASICS 5km Bolt brings together a number of Australia's top male and female distance athletes who do battle in front of the thousands of sports fans and curious onlookers during the Noosa Triathlon Multisports Festival.

Martin Dent has dominated this race in recent times winning for the past three years. 2008 has been a good year for Dent, capped off with a win at the City to Surf.

Olympic 5km representative Collis Birmingham finished second to Dent last year, just two seconds behind and will be a top contender to end Dent’s reign.

The field is strengthened even further with the inclusion of Scott Westcott, who recently took out the prestigious Bridge to Brisbane 10km run, crowd favourite and running icon Steve Moneghetti and marathon man Lee Troop.

Two promising juniors will make their debut in the Asics Bolt.

Ryan Gregson, Australian junior champion over 1500m and 5000m, who placed 5th at World Junior Championships this year.

Beijing Olympic 1500m representative Jeff Riseley is looking to make his mark in this race. His manager Nic Bideau predicts Riseley will be one of our big stars in London 2012.

A new talent emerged in the women’s race last year. Sydney university student Lara Tamsett handled the pressure of her debut in style and in doing so joined some illustrious company on the women’s Bolt trophy.

Tamsett will return to defend her title but will face stiff opposition in the form of Beijing Olympic representative Benita Johnson. Johnson is the Australian record holder for 2000m, 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m and marathon and a former winner of the 2002 Asics Bolt title and holds the course record (15:22).

The ASICS Bolt will commence directly after the Northside Party Hire Noosa Women’s Grand Prix cycling at 4pm on Saturday 1 November, 2008.

Courtesy of the the Noosa Triathlon Multisports Festival