Australian Mountain Running Championships Preview
Australian Mountain Running Championships
12 noon Sunday 7 June
Ferntree Gully picnic ground
Ferntree Gully MELBOURNE
Outstanding local runner Kate Seibold-Crosbie of Knox Athletics Club will be hoping her knowledge of the Ferntree Gully course gives her an edge as she takes on defending Australian women’s champion Jessamy Hosking of South Canberra-Tuggeranong Athletics Club and 2008 world long distance mountain running championship bronze medallist Angela Bateup of Weston Creek Athletics Club. Hosking has had a chequered running career because of injury but is in good form at present. Bateup is a former national junior middle distance champion on the track with plenty of speed; now in her 30s, she has built a phenomenal endurance base and is very strong on the uphills. Younger runners Hannah Flannery of South Canberra Tuggeranong Athletics Club, Samantha Cook of Box Hill and Sarah Lester of St Stephens Harriers might well spring a surprise on the two lap, 4.1km circuit.
A hot favourite for the open men’s title over 12.3 kms will be Mark Bourne of Woden Harriers, Australia’s best senior male performer at the 2007 world championship. Bourne gained additional racing experience in Europe in 2008 and finished well up in two World Mountain Running Association Grand Prix events, with a best place of 9th. Wollongong’s Stephen Brown of Kembla Joggers Athletics Club, although only 24, has represented at the last four World Mountain Running Championships and also done a winter racing campaign in Europe. He comfortably won the NSW Mountain Running Championship and is most likely to be the greatest threat to a Bourne victory. Victorian champion Joji Mori of Richmond Harriers will be keen to be among the place getters.
The junior men’s 8.3 km and junior women’s 4.1 km races are wide open, although orienteering international Oscar Phillips from Launceston will be hard to beat in the junior boys. The veterans age groups feature many world class performers for their age, including Colleen Middleton, Kathy Southgate, Narelle Patrick, Lavinia Petrie and Caroline Campbell in the women. Notable runners in the men’s ranks include Australian 24 hour running representative Simon Phillips from Tasmania, prolific mountain race winner David Hosking from Canberra, and Albury legend Clive Vogel.
Entries on the day will be accepted from 11am and full event details are at www.mountainrunning.coolrunning.com.au
The Championships will be a selection trial for the World Mountain Running Championships in Italy on 6 September and the Commonwealth Mountain Running Championships in England on 17-20 September.