ATHLETICS
TRARALGON HARRIES
By BARRY HIGGINS
TRARALGON Harriers members travelled near and far to enjoy the challenge of new events and inspiring locations, including interstate and overseas, followed by a social evening back home recently.
The Athletics Victoria Cross Country Competition held last month saw the club’s representative team competed in Round 7 of the state cross-country competition at the Albert Park Lakeside stadium, the home of Victorian athletics.
All performed well in the day’s 10 kilometre events.
Team co-captain Miles Verschuur reported, “The undoubted highlight of the Harriers’ day was watching Seth Bomers overtaking more than eight others with a mighty sprint in the final stretch of his junior three-kilometre race. While not quite scoring his goal time of sub-11 minutes, Seth rightly held his arms aloft on his return to his cheering teammates”.
“The team will now travel to the gold rush city of Ballarat to race the half-marathon distance around the picturesque Lake Wendouree. Hopes are high that some will be able to shout ‘Eureka’, having earned a personal best.”
Further north, the Australian Outback Marathon saw the formidable running duo of Marieka Reilly and Desley Gray run the iconic Australian Outback Marathon, softening the pain of the bush tracks, soft-sand trails and sand dunes with stunning views of Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) in central Australia.
“It was a tough course with sandy tracks the whole way, but the experience and finish was exhilarating,” Desley said.
“The Uluru sunrise and a walk around its base the next day was soul restoring.”
Running on one of the world’s toughest marathon courses, Marieka and Desley crossed the finish line together in 5:26:34.
On the same day, American time, Harrier and prolific marathon runner Mark Rossiter ran the San Francisco Marathon.
“It was my first international marathon. Not only did I get to run over the Golden Gate Bridge (twice) but the views of the Bay, Alcatraz and the amazing city below were absolutely breath taking,” he said.
“Lauren (wife Lauren Bourke) also joined in on the epic adventure and completed the 10km race where she smashed out a speedy time to ensure she met me at the finish line.”
Mark ran 3 hours 47 minutes, an excellent time over the steep course, finishing in the top five per cent of the field.
“It was brutal – while I was prepared for a hilly course, the 450m elevation gain felt more like something out of (mountain running). The humidity and travel fatigue also made it very interesting!”
Back home a week later, the Harriers celebrated its summer season awards at the Dal Mondo Function Centre.
After an enjoyable dinner and much socialising, club president Giuseppe Marino, aided by vice president Desley Gray, bestowed awards on members.
Marieka Reilly, Ash Crawford and Dempsey Podmore were announced as the outstanding runners across the summer period.
“I would like to thank all committee members, both outgoing and recently appointed new members at the club’s recent AGM, and also the many dedicated volunteers who support the club. Special thanks to Ann Bomers for her peerless seven years as treasurer,” the president said.
Ron Verschuur provided a humorous but informative update on the newly introduced Trail Running Series.
The club’s Athletics Victoria co-captain Miles Verschuur reported on the Victorian Cross Country season, where the Harriers’ team punched well above its weight.
“(The evening) was a wonderful opportunity to recognise the placegetters in the 2025/26 summer championships and to celebrate the achievements of the year so far,” Giuseppe said.
LAST Thursday’s run/walk (August 6) was the Harrier’s second event along the Rise 5km course through the new estate in the north-east of Traralgon.
The area displays modern urban design and many of the streets are named in honour of local men who gave their lives in war.
The quickest women were Molly Irvine, Rebecca Anderson and Catherine Leonard.
The results saw the steady approach of the younger brigade, as Peter Cutler, first home, was closely shadowed by teenagers Dempsey Podmore and Seth Bomers.
This week’s event (Thursday, August 13) is a 5km from the Agnes Brereton Reserve netball pavilion.
Results – Round 7 Victorian cross-country competition
Female Open: 10km: Yani Cornthwaite 41:42, Kate Jones 44:31, Chelsea Fox 44:34, Anna Cardillo 48:21. Male Open: 10km: Richard Ogilvie 32:53, William Robertson 34:12, Miles Verschuur 36:33, Glenn Crawford 40:37, Gary Fox 49:43, Ron Verschuur 50:19. Male under 18: 10km: Dempsey Podmore 33:08. Male under 16: 3km: Seth Bomers 11:07.
The Rise 5km run/walk (Thursday, August 6): Peter Cutler 18:13, Dempsey Podmore 19:04, Seth Bomers 19:29, Sav Mavrofridis 19:53, Luke Yeates 19:55, Adrian Sutcliffe 21:00, Jay McGown 21:04, Andrew Greenhill 21:17, Stephen Renehan 22:22, Ash Crawford 22:32, Clinton Jolly 22:35, Darrel Cross 24:07, Molly Irvine 24:18, Geoffrey Francis 24:22, Peter Sanders 24:30, Ron Verschuur 25:03, Trent Kooyman 25:27, Rebecca Anderson 27:06, Stephen Mcleod 27:19, Catherine Leonard 27:23, McKenna Smith 27:23, Jason Odlum 27:25, Phillip Mayer 28:08, Jye Kaestner 28:28, Ivy Crawford 28:38, Charlotte Barr 28:43, David Barr 28:44, Jim Cutler 28:55, Toby Grzmil 29:03, Giuseppe Marino 29:18, Mark Lansdown 29:19, Desley Gray 29:29, Shane Wilson 30:04, Daniel Symons 30:09, Gary Fox 31:15, Oliver Semmler 32:00, Tania Whitehead 32:37, Ree Graham 33:11, Tracey Matheson 33:14, Paul Smith 33:15, David Matheson 34:21, Mandy Ellis 35:15, Kat Fenech 35:31, Orannah Brightman 36:22, Samantha McGown 41:42, Rebecca Darby 45:00, Michelle Colwell 50:54, Kathy Quinn 50:54, Lynda Jones 51:37, Ross Jones 51:37, Barry Higgins 53:50, Belinda Heafield 53:50, Ian Heafield 59:00, Ashley Marsh NTR, Caitlin Pitt NTR, Nick Hodson NTR, Kylee Earl NTR
