Craig sets a blistering pace on Pinnacle track
Article by Daryl Roweth
Last Sunday at Pinnacle some 70 runners took on the challenging Pinnacle track which saw the ladies dominate the fastest finishers over each distance. Young gun Lily Craig (15:45) was the quickest up and down the big hill as she finished over a minute ahead of the next best runners time in the first male finisher Glenn Prestwidge (17:06). There was very little (3 seconds) separating second placed Kerrie Lindsay and third placed Tanya Connolly. In the males Craig Penrose finished with a one second slower run than first placed Glenn but comfortably clear of third placed William McLean and fourth placed Bailey Penrose (20:57) who was the overall winner of the day. In the 7km run Naomi Boynton (34:29) was clearly the fastest overall leading home Noah Lamrock (36:43) with John Connolly and David Craig finishing just behind in a competitive 14 man field. Ella Lamrock was the second lady home in front of Kay Davis. Meg Reeves continues to churn out great results and this time she was first home over the 10km distance with a scintillating 46:16. Mark Chapman (49:48) got the gong over Paul Centofanti by just one second while Joel Kitto eased into third spot. President Jane Fairgrieve was the only lady besides Meg to tackle the tough 10km and came home with a time around 69 minutes.
On Wednesday night at Elephant Park we had another big turnout with around 130 starters crossing the start line and another big night of Personal Bests. PB’s were set by William Pell 25s, Brian Penrose 4s, Hugh Corcoran 19s, Wayne Sunderland 4s, Patrick Hakkinen 15s, Jennifer McLean 26s, Meg Vickery 24s, Beckie Plant 14s, Mathew Vickery 5s, Meg Reeves 2s, Sam Kiho 35s, Stuart McGarva 25s, Naomi Boynton 17s, Marc Kiho 50s and Michael Bowen 14s. Fastest on the night was again Jack Daintith, with a time of 10:38, while fastest woman was Meg Reeves with an impressive 10:50 which was second fastest overall. The overall handicap winner was young Hailey Prestwidge who ran a very consistent 21:14 as she beat her mum Michelle home, despite Michelle’s great technique of crossing the line carrying her chip and swooping low as she crosses the mat to ensure it registers.
At the Athletics NSW Country Championship at Glendale near Newcastle over the Australia Day long weekend Brain Rix and John West took part, where the conditions were extremely hot and humid. Brain competed in the mens 70 – 79 age category and won the 1500m, 3000m and 5000m track races. He also finished second in the 400m, third in the Javelin and fourth in the Shot Put and Hammer Throw. John took out the mens 60 – 69 age 3000m Track Walk and was second in the Javelin. John also finished just outside the placings in Discus, Hammer Throw and Shot Put.
Don’t forget that Dan Benton will be conducting the second of the two free coaching clinics for all ORC members. The drills will consist of improving running skills and learning to run without causing injuries. So be there next Monday February 9 at 5.15 p.m at Riawena Oval. I heard a lot of people talking it up at Wednesday’s run and looking forward to this weeks session.
We still need some more people to volunteer to take the mats for Sunday runs. It only takes a few extra minutes before and after the run so please think about putting your hand up to help out for a month. A big thank you to those people who have already volunteered their time to help the club out.
Also, we need some more names on the list of volunteers for the OCCRF (running festival Feb 28 – March 1). The book is at every run so please put your name down as soon as possible. If you can help out for an hour or two, there will be a job you can do.
Also as David Gibson commented on at Elephant Park on Wednesday night, the 5km race is filling fast, so make sure you get your entry in soon. There are no entries taken on the Festival Weekend so if you intend to run, you need to enter before midnight on the Friday February 27.
This Sunday the club run is a Relay event at Elephant Park with a BBQ early lunch following the run. Could all intending runners be at Elephant Park by 8.45 so teams can be drawn out of the hat. Total distance you run or walk will be 3km or 3 laps of the Wednesday track.
BIG CROWD: A large contingent of Orange Runners’ Club members took the chance to attend Monday’s training session at Riawena Oval with Dan Benton (right).