Cooler, overcast conditions greeted runners at Taylors Mistake on Wednesday evening for the second race in the Frontrunner Offroad Series – the Godley Head Run-out, the shortest and flattest of the three races.
While last week’s race winners, Vajin Armstrong and Fleur Pawsey, did not run in this week’s event, the men’s field in particular was not short on competition. Several notable runners toed the start line – Carsten Jorgenson, Marty Lukes, Jake Roberts, Luke Vaughan, Grant Guise, and the return of Blair McWhirter from overseas, meant the competition was always going to be stiff.
70 individuals ran the 6km out to Boulder Bay on the Coastal Track, before climbing up towards the Godley Head Carpark, and retuning to the Taylors Mistake finish line via the Mountain Bike Track. Juniors and Seniors share the same track and distance in this event, meaning pressure is always applied to some of the seniors by the younger runners!
After leading the runners out of Taylors Mistake, Jorgenson went on to win the race in a blistering time of 26.57. Marty Lukes was once again second, and local multisporter Luke Vaughan came home third. Vaughan is another local athlete with his sights fixed firmly on the upcoming Kepler, so the Offroad Series is proving popular with those looking to sharpen up over the closing stages of their training. Blair McWhirter and Grant Guise rounded out the top five places overall for the men. Jorgenson’s win not only smashed the Masters Men four year old race record previously held by John Paul Lilburne (by almost three minutes), but he was also 11 seconds quicker than Axel Reiser’s Senior Men’s record set back in 2005. Jorgenson now holds a course record in each event of the Series.
L to R: Carsten Jorgenson, Marty Lukes, Luke Vaughan
In the women’s race, the overall win went to local triathlete Julia Grant (who placed second last week), Fiona Gilroy was second, and 30 seconds back from Gilroy was Ella Harris in third place, who broke the Girls 10-12 race record by over five minutes.
L to R: Julia Grant, Fiona Gilroy, Ella Harris
In the 40+ categories, Roger Lamb continued the classy performance he displayed over Mt Vernon, by placing 2nd to Carsten Jorgenson and coming in a very respectable 9th overall. Anthony Rogal in the Classic Men’s category also put in an exceptional performance to win the grade and place 11th overall in a time of 29.31.
Fiona Gilroy was the stand-out for the women in the Masters grade, finishing second woman overall, exactly one minute down on Senior Women’s winner Julia Grant. The Classic Women’s category was won by Sumner’s own Annette Campbell.
In the Junior categories, numbers are lighter than in previous years, but competition was rife in the Boys 13-16 category, with strong runs coming from Josh Campbell, William Richardson and Tom Williams to place 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Summary of Results
Senior Men
- Martin Lukes – 27.32
- Luke Vaughan – 28.04
- Blair McWhirter – 28.32
Masters Men (40-49)
- Carsten Jorgenson – 26.57 (1st overall)
- Roger Lamb – 29.28
- Mark Dunn – 33.01
Classic Men (50+)
- Anthony Rogal – 29.31
- Nigel Whalley – 35.28
- Arne Ericson – 35.37
Boys 10-12
- Louis Harris – 37.14
Boys 13-16
- Josh Campbell – 32.43
- William Richardson – 33.03
- Tom Williams – 33.56
Junior Men
- Eugene Campbell – 31.03
Senior Women
- Julia Grant – 33.33
- Caroline Thom – 36.14
- Megan Macrae – 38.52
Masters Women (40-49)
- Fiona Gilroy – 34.33 (2nd overall)
- Chris Rowe – 37.36
- Wendy Riach – 40.03
Classic Women (50+)
- Annette Campbell – 42.34
- Helen Wells – 48.54
Girls 10-12
- Ella Harris – 35.03 (3rd overall)
Girls 13-16
- Sophie Harrison – 41.02
Junior Women
- Karly Ryder – 36.43
Race Records for Godley Head Run-out
- Girls 10-12: Ella Harris – 35.03 (2010)
- Girls 13-16: Karly Ryder – 34.36 (2008)
- Boys 10-12: Greg Moore – 35.52 (2007)
- Boys 13-16: Ryan Batin – 29.10 (2008)
- Junior Men: Ben Bamford – 28.48 (2006)
- Senior Men: Axel Reiser – 27.08 (2005)
- Masters Men (40-49): Carsten Jorgenson – 26.57 (2010)
- Classic Men (50+): Bruce Meder – 31.17 (2005)
- Junior Women: Lucy Oliver – 31.56 (2007)
- Senior Women: Karen Muller – 31.46 (2006)
- Masters Women (40-49): Nicky Dravitski – 32.55 (2004)
- Classic Women (50+): Loris Reed – 38.47 (2008)
Full results can be viewed here, and photos here.
The final race of the Frontrunner Off Road Series is held over 8km, with a solid climb from Sumner Beach up Scarborough Spur to Evans Pass and back to Sumner Village down the Captain Thomas track. It will be followed by the series prizegiving at the Sumner RSA. The short course is 5km and takes in the Captain Thomas Track. Registration is from 5.30pm to 6.00pm at the Sumner RSA. Race start is 6.15pm.
