Lofthouse
Holds Out Zgainski
Cool conditions greeted a
good field of 20 senior runners, who lined up to
tackle the relocated Tyler’s Hardware Handicap,
held for the first time at Rupanyup.
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| Keith
Lofthouse |
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Quite a few
local runners lined up to run as invitational runners,
with Gail Emmett leading the field home ahead of
back marker Noel Jorgensen, followed by Peter Emmett.
Competitors
tackled the 7500 meter Jack’s Track
course, starting from the Rupanyup oval, with the
seniors doing two laps and the juniors one lap. Constructed
under the guidance of Adrian Tyler, the basically
flat course (well, have you seen any hills at Rupanyup?)
is very picturesque, with many twists and turns among
the many shrubs and trees.
Gary Saunders was the
first of the club runners away and held the lead
for most of the way. With about 1km to go, arch rivals
Keith Lofthouse and Ted Zgainski took over the lead,
with Lofthouse holding a narrow advantage. Soon after
entering the oval for the final lap to the line,
Zgainski caught Lofthouse, but Lofthouse found a
little extra and kicked on to take out the race.
Nathaniel Warren charged through the field once again
to come in third.
Invitational runner Noel Jorgensen
ran an impressive race to clock the fastest time
of 26 minutes 38 seconds.
A great turn out
of local runners swelled the usually depleted junior
ranks to 8, with Tobias Blair the only club runner
in the race, so was of course the official winner.
However,
Cam Ruwoldt ran a great race to come home first and
record the fastest time of 20 minutes 6 seconds.
Paris Panozzo and Leesa Drum had a great battle with
Panozzo getting away at the end to be the first girl
home in a good time of 20 minutes 26 seconds. Lauren
Drum and Gemma Morgan also had a close tussle, with
Drum just winning by 3 seconds.
Somer Darnell once
again ran hard to complete the sub-junior 1km event.
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