Victorian Mountain Running Championships
Dandenong Ranges National Park, Ferntree Gully, Melbourne
Sunday 6 June
Glenhuntly runners Adam Byles and Georgina Beech took out the open men’s and women’s titles at the Victorian Mountain Running Championships in raining, wet conditions on Sunday. Byles, of Albury, the 3rd place getter at the Australian Championship 2 weeks earlier, ran a strong 53.21 for the 12.3kms, 4 minutes ahead of runner up Brock Hogan from Knox on 57.14, with Luke Searle (Western) 3rd in 58.16.
Georgina Beech took out the women’s 8.2 kms in 44.20, with Helen O’Hagan 2nd in 45.54 and long distance international Isobel Bespalov 3rd in 46.26.
The junior championships produced some outstanding performances. Rosie Donegan (Essendon) in the girls 4.1 kms, ran 21.03, over a minute faster than the 2009 Australian Championship winner on the same course. Bronwyn Humphry (South Melbourne) was second in 21.40 and Charlotte Jagusch (Casey Cardinia) third in 22.14. Ben Buckingham (St Stephens) from Wodonga narrowly defeated 2009 national champion Jordan Nelson (Knox) in the junior men’s 8.2 kms, running 36.09 to Nelson’s 36.25, with Jai Edmonds 3rd in 37.14.
Full results are on the Athletics Victoria website at