MILES VERSCHUUR
ATHLETICS
TRARALGON HARRIERS
By MILES VERSCHUUR
THIRTY dedicated runners elected to brave the freezing and foggy conditions on Sunday as part of the Traralgon Harriers Wirilda Park Trail Run in honour of former club members Ray and Doris Ellis.
Warm clothes, gloves, and beanies were aplenty at the start near Tyers before runners traversed over the glorious Wirilda Walking Track and Pipeline Track for either 23-kilometres or 10-kilometres.
In an unparalleled setting and terrain, featuring three water crossings, a run across the Moondarra Dam Wall, and over 1000 metres of climbing, the 20 competitors in the 23-kilometres were pushed to their limits.
The sun emerged by the time runners finished, and yet again, Zack Beasley scored another victory.
Holding off adventure racer, Joel Claxton, Beasley finished in 1hr 57:40, a course record.
Not far behind Claxton in third was veteran Ian Cornthwaite, 10 minutes faster than his winning time in November last year.
Narelle Crozier was the fastest female on the day, not far behind the male podium places in a time of 2hrs 14:03, with Kylie Murray powering home to finish second in 2.25:14, and the ever-consistent Liz Kenney third in 3.11:31.
In the 10-kilometre event, still featuring one river crossing and plenty of climbing, Tobiasz Grzmil proved victorious in 56:18, neck and neck with Warren Shields who stopped the clock in 56:51. Glen Borch, featuring a fast finish, collected the ‘bronze’ place in 59:47. Junior Lucy Magaldi won the outright female race in 1hr 17:13, ahead of Cat Leonard (1hr 20:17) and Callie Cook (1hr 24:29).
With the 55th WIN Network Traralgon Marathon less than two weeks away, many runners used the event as preparations for the prestigious race.
Ray and Doris Ellis Trail Run Results
10km: Tobiasz Grzmil 56:18, Warren Shields 56:51, Glen Borch 59:47, Ian Twite 1.02:59, Lucy Magaldi 1.17:13, Anthony Magaldi 1.17:13, Cat Leonard 1.20:17, Callie Cook 1.24:29, Alicia Turner 1.35:48, Ann Bomers 1.37:57.
23km: Zackary Beasley 1.57:40, Joel Claxton 2.05:47, Ian Cornthwaite 2.09:52, Narelle Crozier 2.14:03, Ash Crawford 2.21:22, Kylie Murray 2.25:14, Jay McGown 2.29:45, Joe Patrick 2.30:40, Greg Semmler 2.31:52, Jason Odlum 2.33:27, Darrel Cross 2.33:43, Clinton Jolly 2.37:47, Adrian Harper 2.49:12, Gary Fox 3.03:13, Geoff Francis 3.07:55, Liz Kenney 3.11:31, Steph Lake 3.24:18, Chris Francis 3.35:45, Ree Graham 4.41:16, Collette Hofmann 4.41:16.
BEASLEY SHINES IN WEEKLY HITOUT
WITH a plethora of events flying at the Traralgon Harriers thick and fast, 48 dedicated runners, walkers, and joggers showed up for 5km at the three-lap Riverslea Boulevard course.
Fresh off winning the 60km Ultramarathon at the Great Ocean Road Marathon Festival on the weekend, Zack Beasley recorded another express-pace time of 17:56, the fastest man for the night.
After his phenomenal 60km victory, which he described as, “incredible, painful, emotional exciting … a million things,” Beasley was still able to turn the pace on.
Behind Zack was former Australian Marathon representative, Ian Cornthwaite, who fiercely
battled with Greg Semmler for second and third places.
Cornthwaite finished ahead in 18:54, with Semmler only two seconds behind for third.
In fourth and fifth were juniors Miles Verschuur (19:27) and Dempsey Podmore (20:02).
Karen Graham continued her series of dominance for the female Harriers, in a time of 22:01.
Quite a way back was club veteran Liz Kenney (25:38) and youngster Lucy Magaldi (25:53) to round out the podium places.
The debutant father-and-son team of Huxley and Asher Brooks delivered some impressive times for their first outing with Huxley stopping the clock in 23:30 and Asher in 24:10.
The highlight of the profusion of upcoming events is by far the 55th WIN Network Traralgon Marathon on Sunday, June 5.
The 42.195km, 21.1km, and 10km options all have caps and spots are filling up at rapid speed, so be sure to enter as soon as you finish reading.
Results: Zack Beasley 17:56, Ian Cornthwaite 18:54, Greg Semmler 18:56, Miles Verschuur 19:27, Dempsey Podmore 20:02, Shane Gavin 20:11, Jay McGown 20:16, Andrew Greenhill 21:17, Clinton Jolly 21:17, Darrel Cross 21:18, Warren Shields 21:37, Chris van Unen 21:46, Karen Graham 22:01, Pete Sanders 22:12, Stephen Renehan 22:17, Tobiasz Grzmil 23:25, Huxley Brooks 23:30, Tim Bye 23:33, Giuseppe Marino 23:43, Asher Brooks 24:10, Geoff Francis 24:12, Stephen McLeod 24:32, Andrew Broberg 24:49, Jerzey Podmore 25:00, David Barr 25:04, Ron Verschuur 25:25, Liz Kenney 25:38, Lucy Magaldi 25:53, Anthony Magaldi 25:53, Gary Fox 26:10, Catherine Leonard 27:51, Bjorn Luxman 28:04, Kaye Livingstone 28:38, Collette Hofmann 28:45, Tania Whitehead 28:45, Phill Mayer 28:48, Callie Cook 28:52, Vicky Aitkens 28:55, Mandy Ellis 31:19, Ann Bomers 33:16, Ian Heafield 34:48, Michelle Sawyer 36:30, Peter Grixti 43:00, Barry Higgins 47:52, Michelle Colwell 47:52, Andrew Legge NTR, Chris Francis NTR.
