05.09.2007

Warm cross hits Perth

Despite predictions of rain, Perth delivered a typical fine and warm weekend for the Telstra Australian Cross Country Championships.

Incorporating the Australian All Schools Cross Country Championships and School Sport Australia Cross Country Championships, close to 900 competitors converged on Alderbury Reserve on Saturday - not far from Perry Lakes Stadium - to compete over a varied and challenging course.

There was a real carnival atmosphere with lots of support for competitors from the large number of enthusiastic supporters.

The open men's event saw a surprise winner in up-and-coming NSW distance runner Jeffrey Hunt (pictured) triumphing in a close finish over Ben St Lawrence (NSW) and World Cross Country Championships representative Martin Dent (ACT).

“(I was) very thrilled, it capped off the best season I’ve probably ever had,” Hunt said.

“The course itself was pretty good, relatively flat with a testy hill in it. Because I like wearing spikes when I race, the road crossings were fine but the hill actually had limestone and that was hard. Apart from that the course was good, nice and fast, and the best part was running through the bush because it felt like a trail run and not actually in a race. It was something different.

“I’d never competed in Perth before and it was the second time I’d ever been over there.

“(My preparation) was pretty much the same as I do every year. All the New South Wales titles I try to do so I did New South Wales roads, long course, the short course, our cross relays, our road relays and then I also made a trip this year down to Bundoora to race against the (Victorian) boys. And this year, because it actually fit in, I had another shot - six years after my first go - at the City to Surf.”

Hunt’s win was a massive improvement on his previous best effort of sixth place earned at the Australian Cross Country Championships in Canberra in 2004.

“Now the focus with me and Greeny (coach Ken Green) is to get in 14 weeks of solid training in the lead-up to Zatopek and try and go down there and run really well in the 10k. I’ve probably got about two months from now before I do our State 3k and I’ll do another couple of races as well.”

In the women's open race Anna Thompson (VIC) was once again triumphant, this being her fourth title, with Lisa Jane Weightman (VIC) in second and, making a big step up in performance for her first national open medal, Eliza Stewart (NSW).

The Australian Road Walks Championships were held on Sunday.

The winners from each division were as follows:

Australian Cross Country Championships

Men 12k CC open: Jeffrey Hunt (NSW) 37:10
Men 8k CC under 20: Chris Hamer (VIC) 25:06
Boys 8k CC 18/19 years: Liam Ridings (NSW) 26:36
Boys 6k CC 16/17 years: Ryan Gregson (NSW) 19:27
Boys 4k CC 14/15 years: Joshua Johnson (NSW) 12:48
Boys 3k CC 13 years: Jack Curran (QLD) 10:10
Boys 3k CC 12 years: Jack Stapleton (NSW) 10:48
Boys 3k CC 11 years: Morgan McDonald (NSW) 10:47
Boys 2000m CC 10 years: Dau Akol (NSW) 7:19

Women 8k CC open: Anna Thompson (VIC) 27:20
Women 6k CC under 20: Lara Tamsett (NSW) 22:43
Girls 6k CC 18/19 years: Genevieve Lacaze (QLD) 23:07
Girls 4k CC 16/17 years: Hollie Emery (NSW) 13:55
Girls 4k CC 14/15 years: Kelly-Ann Perkins (QLD) 14:06
Girls 3k CC 13 years: Katelyn Simpson (QLD) 11:14
Girls 3k CC 12 years: Sophie Linn (SA) 11:25
Girls 3k CC 11 years: Hayley Arden (NSW) 11:35
Girls 2000m CC 10 years: Sarah Marvin (NSW) 8:01

Men 3k CC 16/19 years AWD: Zackery Findlay (VIC) 11:28
Men 3k CC 14/15 years AWD: Jack Kelly (QLD) 11:44
Men 3k CC 13 years AWD: William Randall (NSW) 14:59
Boys 3k CC 12 years AWD: Jordan Moore (NSW) 15:31
Boys 3k CC 11 years AWD: Jack McLeod (NSW) 14:18
Boys 2000 metres CC 10 years AWD: Jayden Deefholts (NSW) 11:26
Women 3k CC 16-19 years AWD: Kimberley Duffin (QLD) 20:55
Women 3k CC 14/15 years AWD: Leahy Casson (QLD) 18:12
Girls 3k CC 12 years AWD: Annaliese Brunskill (NSW) 17:30
Girls 3k CC 11 years AWD: Amanda Fowler (NSW) 18:17

Australian Road Walks Championships

Men 30k race walk open: Darren Bown (SA) 22:22:18.00
Men 20k race walk under 20: Ian Rayson (NSW) 1:34:35.00
Women 10k race walk open: Megan Szirom (VIC) 47:31.00
Women 10k race walk under 20: Fiona Alldis (NSW) 50:03.32
Women 8k race walk under 18: Melissa Hayes (NSW) 39:47.00
Men 8k race walk under 18: Rhydian Cowley (VIC) 37:56.00
Women 5k race walk under 16: Paige Hooper (SA) 25:23.81
Men 5k race walk under 16: Sean Fitzsimmons (WA) 23:31.58
Women 3k race walk under 14: Amy Burren (VIC) 14:27.88
Men 3k race walk under 14: Samuel Dib (WA) 14:37.99

For a complete list of results, including team scores, please click here:

Cross country
Walks

Images from the weekend can be purchased here