Bush Capital Bush Marathon Festival
Campbell High School
Saturday 25 July 2009
MATTHEWS SLASHES MARATHON COURSE RECORD
Goulburn medical student Alex Matthews clocked 2hrs 46 mins 19 secs to win today’s Bush Capital marathon, slashing 15 minutes off the course record. The hills in Mt Ainslie, Mt Majura and Goorooyarroo reserves did not trouble Matthews, who was third in the Australian Trail Running Championship in March. Wagga Wagga veteran Peter Fitzpatrick was runner up in 3:24:41 and ANU student Andrew Williams was third in 3:39:56.
Kate Hodson of Ngunnawal in the ACT made an outstanding comeback from injury to finish first female in 3:22:04, with Canberra veterans Kelley Flood second in 3:42:00 and Elle Knight third in 3:54:15.
American attorney Win Apel achieved his goal of completing a marathon on all seven continents when he completed the course in 6:22:45.
The 60 km ultramarathon was won in the fast time of 4:36:46 by Kingston’s Peter Johnson who was moving up in distance after finishing second in the marathon in 2008. South Coast runner Damian Smith was second in 4:56:42, just ahead of fast finishing David Baldwin who ran 4:57:26. Triple world rogaining champion Julie Quinn of Macquarie was fastest female in 5:18:03, with Natalie Jennings of Sydney second in 5:54:07 and Marie Heitz of Tasmania third in 5:56:59.
World long distance mountain running representative Colleen Middleton from Albury had a brilliant run in the 25 kms, clocking 1:45:48, with Yelena Pearson second in 1:54:27 and Sally Parker third in 1:54:35. Alex Miller of Gowrie in the ACT was first in 1:41:26, with former world veteran champion Trevor Jacobs second in 1:43:31 and Bill Bennett third in 1:47:20.
The most popular event of the day, the 16 kms with over 160 participants, proved to be a Tour de Force for local horticulturist Laurie Cullen of Ainslie who was scintillating in clocking 60:21, seven minutes ahead of runner up, CSIRO scientist Tony Swan, another plant expert, with local legal eagle Richard Faulks a high flying third in 68:37. Elizabeth Humphries of Lyneham was fastest female in 72:52, with Julia Reed second in 73:34 and Louise Gates third in 76:29.
World long distance mountain running medallist Angela Bateup of Yass organised the turnaround drink station for the 60 kms before blitzing the 10 kms in 38:43. Dual Six Foot Track champion Vanessa Haverd of Watson in the ACT was second in 41:17, with Sarah Londsdale third in 42:46. Darren McClellan of Terrigal in NSW was fastest male in 40:45, with Andy Lowes next in 48:12 and Yili Zhu third in 48:29.
Christo Dunkley, 15, of Isaacs in the ACT had a strong win the 5 kms in 18:53, with 13 year old Reuben Caley second in 19:31 and Greg Hosking third in 19:34. Anna McCormack, 13, of Pearce in the ACT showed her talent in the women’s field, with the excellent time of 20:26. Betsy Anderson-Smith was second in 20:48 and Alexa Kniley third in 21:03.
A good field of youngsters assembled for the 2 kms, with victory going to 10 year old Andrew Hosking of Hughes in the ACT in the quick time for the hilly course of 9:32, with Haydn Waugh of Woonoona in Sydney second in 9:39 and Rohan Hosking, 8, third in 9:40. The girls race was won by Lauren Robards, 8, of Spence in the ACT in 9:55, with Zoe Cuthbert, 8, of Watson second in 11:30 and Samantha Eardley, 13, of Woonoona third in 11:45.
The Australian Mountain Running Association wishes to thank Campbell High School, Canberra Nature Park, and all of the helpers on the day for a very successful event in beautiful mid-winter sunshine.