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Muller Fights Back!
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| Lindy
Muller |
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In an all female affair, Stawell Amateur Athletic
Club runners Lindy Muller, Alexa Duke and Meg Parnaby
produced one of the most exciting finishes in years,
when Muller claimed victory within the final few
metres to the line.
Competing in the Howdens
of Stawell 8 kilometre handicap, Muller made
the most of the 4 minute advantage over Duke and Parnaby that she started
with, and by half way had overtaken front markers
Gary Saunders and Carolyn Lehmann to take the lead.
However, behind her Peter Hilbig and John Collins were
starting to threaten, and Parnaby and Duke were
having a real dual, with Parnaby getting the advantage
up the hills, only to loose it again to Duke down
the next.
With 400 metres to go, Muller
still held a good lead up the final hill, with
Parnaby closing the gap. Duke was still a little
distance behind, but the last 200 metres was all
down hill, and Duke took off.
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| Emily Parnaby |
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First she passed Parnaby,
then with only 20 metres to go, she passed Muller,
but Muller had some fight left, and in a supreme
effort fought back to just regain the lead a metre
or two before the line. Parnaby finished third,
three seconds behind.
Fastest time went to Jade Merrett, with 28 minutes
17 seconds. Susie Ellis was the quickest female
in a time of 34 minutes 15 seconds.
The juniors also produced
another exciting race, with Emily Parnaby and Emma
Kelly battling it out over the 4 kilometre course.
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| India Burns |
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Kelly
lead Parnaby off by 20 seconds, but Parnaby hit
the lead at about the half way point. Kelly dropped
back slightly until the 3000 metre mark, then launched
an attack. Parnaby responded, and only a few metres
separated the runners all the way to the line,
with Emily Parnaby just holding off Kelly by 1
second for victory.
Backmarker Nat
Watson was third with the fastest junior time of
17 minutes 44 seconds. Emily Parnaby was the fastest
junior girl with 18 minutes 24 seconds.
Sub-junior runner India
Burns lead the field all the way to claim an easy
victory in one of her fastest 2 kilometre times ever.
Second home was Somer Darnell, with Tobias Blair
third. Elly Barnett and Liam Burns were neck and
neck all the way, resulting in Barnett posting the
fastest sub-junior time of 8 minutes 53 seconds,
2 seconds ahead of Liam Burns who was the fastest
sub-junior boy.
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