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Wellington Waterfront 5k, Summer Series - Race 20, Queens Wharf, 17 March 2009

Great, yet another fine night – hot even for runners and walkers alike – with just the gentlest of northerly breezes on Wellington’s waterfront tonight. 58 participants with sadly Rees Buck (looking a likely 10k winner) and Cameron Goldsmid (well up in the field as well), one having to withdraw after a collision with another athlete (Rees) and the other feeling a niggle (Cameron). Very wise judgement though - on the part of both athletes - as continuing to compete may have cost them many weeks of recovery from further damage caused. A great lesson here for many to learn. Listen to your body!

Walkers:  Tim Dutton was our men’s winner again tonight after putting in his 4^th sub-30-minute effort over the past month to record 29:35 – just a tad outside his LPB. Second home was Ian Morton in 32:14 (just seconds away from a SPB) and third went to John Leonard who did walk an SPB in 33:34 – perhaps even a LPB? Frances Le Fort did walk a Lifetime PB time to win the women’s walk race in 33:56 – smashing the 34-minute barrier! Well done, Frances! Second placing went to Leanne Palmer in 34:45 with third place going to Andrea Adams in 37:14.

Runners:  

10k Race - First home again in the second of our 10k races for this season was Grant McLean – slashing 36 seconds off his previous best time over the course. Grant’s winning time was 32:30 – which compares favourably to his NZ Masters National Championships 10k title earned two weekends back in Tauranga in 32:44. That was on the track, of course, but he also had an 800m, 1500m and a 5000m race over that same weekend (winning titles for all but the 800m). Not many can match Grant in his ability to run 800m or up to a marathon – and still achieve placing’s in the top 5% of NZ elite athletes! Huge ups, Grantie! Second placing went to Stephen Day with a good time of 33:47 (especially at this time of the season) and third went to Dave Parsons (making it a Scottish trifecta) with a time of 34:13. First placing in the women’s race, which was a hard fought battle, it would seem, went to Carla O’Donnell who posted a time of 51:47 and Carla just pipped Rachel McLean who ran 51:51 to take second place. Third place was shared with two runners sharing the same time – Sorrel Fagan perhaps just a lip ahead of Philippa Hercus in 53:18.

5k Race – First home, returning to the waterfront 5k after a good spell, was Al Adams. Clearly Al has not been idle though, as his winning time of 16:34 was a Season’s Best for him. Congrats, Al! Second man home was young Jason Waite who improved upon last week’s time to break back into the 16-minute time range in posting 16:59 and third place went to a distraught Patrick MacKay who had an official time of 18:05 but felt the traffic cost him a chance of breaking into the 17-minute range. I have no doubt he was correct – sadly there was a lot of activity on the course this evening – some of it caused by us having 3 races on the go as well. Fastest woman tonight was again Michele Allison who was first home in 19:47. Second place went to Karen Gillespie with 20:45 (having some trouble getting past that particular time it would seem – but I feel sure it will come!) and third place overall went to Mandy Simpson who improved her recent times to record 23:43.

A special congratulations to young Keller McDonald who ran a lifetime PB tonight and broke through the magical 30 minute barrier for the first time – well done, Keller!

A big thanks to tonight’s officials – Dan Powell, Bruce Perry, Bob Stephens, and the Scottish Senior Women’s team of helpers – Belinda Buck, Seini O’Connor, Andrea Farquharson, Laura Roozendaal and Rebecca Speirs (rollerblade queen at the turnaround).

Spot prizes went to: Sally Pollard, Stephen Day, Gary Moller, Carla O’Donnell, Evan Roberts, Brendan Herder and Robin Iremonger. Congratulations to all.

Don’t forget – you should pencil in one more 10k race for the last run of the season on 7 April 2009.

Just 3 more weeks left in the series though.

REGISTRATIONS FROM:          5:30pm onwards at The Chicago Sports Bar, Queen’s Wharf, Wellington 

Start Times: 10k runners expecting to run 50-min plus – Start Time will be 5:30pm – we shall be there a bit earlier to complete registrations, etc. Runners expecting to run sub-50-min – Start time will be 5:45pm

WALKERS/RUNNERS:              5:45pm for all walkers and if you feel you'll run around 26 minutes or more for the 5k race. It is preferred if you start at this time to help keep the race within a manageable time space – I suggest also that it makes for better racing for those runners joining the earlier start time.

RUNNERS' RACE:                     6:00pm for all runners – expecting to run 26 minutes or less

Jim Kerr
Race Series Organiser
Wellington Scottish Athletics Club

E-Mail Contact:  Jim@RainbowFinancial.net.nz  

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