STAFF WRITERS
ATHLETICS
TRARALGON HARRIERS
THE 24th running of the Traralgon Harriers Fun Run was a huge success, with some speedy times, excellent participation levels, especially considering COVID hesitation, and solid community support.
“It’s a great achievement for our club and organising, an event of this size is a huge
undertaking,” club president and event race director Phill Mayer said.
“We were exceptionally lucky with perfect weather for running.
“The community, our sponsors, and local business supporters are amazing, contributing to a really wonderful day. It’s about raising awareness and opportunity to participate in healthy activities, and also raising some needed money for Rotary Centenary House. The runners were happy with the course, and it turned out to be a wonderful showcase for how brilliant our club is.”
The course was an out-and-back loop from Kernot Hall Morwell, along Waterhole Creek to Crinigan Road, along path, across grass, some sand and gravel sections.
“It added some variety to just running on the road as we have in past years. It’s been great to bring the event back to Kernot, and the course is safe, fast and received a positive response from participants,” Mayer said.
“The beauty of this event is that it’s inclusive of everyone, and people get to see the Harriers in a different light to the perceived ‘elite’ running club that many outsiders consider us to be.
“That’s not to say we don’t have some absolutely incredible runners in the club, of course we do, they were on show as well, but we just wouldn’t be what we are without our social and recreational runners.
“The Community Fun Run is a chance for the public to see how inclusive, welcoming and fun
we are. There was a lot of encouragement out on the course, with runners yelling support to other runners, and the marshals cheering them all on.
“It was inspiring to see so many people who were just out there giving it a go. Many people ran with friends or family, there were quite a few walkers, the kid’s race was wonderful, and this is what a community fun run should be all about.”
Of course, there was a race element to the event, and winning the day was Zack Beasley in a smashing time of 17:27, with second place going to Harriers young gun Miles Verschuur (18:59) and third to club elder statesman and evergreen runner Ian Cornthwaite (19:29).
In the women’s event, Narelle Crozier was victorious, breaking the 20 minute barrier in a time of 19:45, followed by Sarah Lewis (20:49) and Liz Kenney (23:36). Male and female winners were presented with the Richard Jeffery Memorial Medal.
Other results in age categories included Scout Robertson (35:25) and Jack Marino (25:24) in the 12-and-under category, Laura Coleman (25:10) and Verschuur (18:59) were the Under-18 winners.
Lewis (20:49) and Beasley (17:27) won the open, in the 40-49 division Crozier (19:45) and Stephen Renehan (21:37), in the 50-59 category Liz Kenney (23:36) and Darrel Cross (20:50), and in the 60+ division Heather Farley (26:03) and Ian Cornthwaite (19:29) were victorious.
Results in the kids’ 1.5 kilometre event saw Emily Harris (6:10) come first, second was Erin Smith (7:01) and third Adelaide Cleaver (7:45).
In the boys Isaac Frost smashed it in 5:19, followed home by Bailyn Leeson (6:23) and third-placed Matthew Xiao (6:37).
The team from Latrobe City won the Workplace Team plaque for the greatest number of entries under their banner, while Kurnai College took out the School Team honours, and Traralgon Harriers won the Sports Team plaque.
Other strong teams competing included Gippsland Road Runners, Be Strong Fitness, DFP
Recruitment, Baw Baw Runners, Danceworks 114, Pulse Running, Aussie Broadband, Officeworks, Traralgon parkrun, St Michael’s, WJR Churchill, Latrobe Regional Hospital and Sale and District Runners.
“We need to acknowledge our major sponsor DFP Recruitment who has been incredible in their ongoing support of this event, and this is their eighth year,” Mayer said.
“They, along with WIN TV, Gold 1242, First National Real Estate Latrobe and Athlete’s Foot are essential in making this event successful for the community”.
