Outstanding victory for Victory Runners was recorded at the NSW Cross Country championships conducted at Willandra on Saturday 22nd June.
In a great day of running, all present witnessed some outstanding performances by many of NSW and ACT top athletes.
Thanks to an increase from Sydney and country clubs north of Sydney there were over 500 runners spread through age groups from under 12 years to over 80 years who took to the Willandra course which was in good condition despite the dry and then wet weather over the last few months.
Many comments were that the course was the best ever but that is relative to one’s memory of other times over the last 28 years that championships have been held.
Victory Runners performances in a nutshell were outstanding. Three individual medals and three team gold medals, what more could we ask for, especially considering for the majority, this was their first ever ANSW event.
To the 29 athletes who competed in the age Championship events, we are very proud of all your performances, from our youngest , eight year old Tori Hill who still has three more years in this age category to our oldest, Kevyn Davis who also has three more years in the seventy to seventy four years.
We honour our individual medal winners, Pam Mason, Bronze in 65 – 69, (6k) Kellie Hinchcliffe Silver in 45 – 49, (10k) and Cristine Suffolk Bronze in her final year of 45 – 49 (10k). However, we did have two males who placed fourth, just missing a medal in a big field of competitors. Eleven year old Joel Harlor received the same time as third place and David Hinchliffe was just over 30 seconds behind third in the male 50 – 54 (8k) event.
Re Team Medals, It was not the intension of ANSW to present Team medals on the day, however when the results of the first event, Under 12 girls was published with a team result being Victory Runners, the official in charge of the printed listing of results, gave the order that Team Medals would be presented throughout the day where possible.
What a thrill when the first two team medals were won by Victory, with the Under 12 boys just clinching the win from Randwick Botany team.
The two photo’s above show these teams on the victory dais just after receiving their medals.
Girls in their finish order were Evie Hill, Alyssa Sim, Lexie Burinaga, and Tori Hill. We thank Elis Onsel who also completed the 2k.and served as a very handy back up.
Boys finish order, Joel Harlor, Dylan Hinchcliffe, Ayden Spicer and Cohen Matthews.
Not to be outdone by our youngsters, four of our mum’s, plus Crissy Suffolk were willing to take up the Women’s 10k challenge, and certainly did us proud by winning the 30yrs + team event. Their finish order being Cristine, Kelly Hinchcliffe, Natasha Spicer, Laura Burbage. Ros Matthews also completed the 10k and a handy back up if required for the team.
Competing in the most competitive age group of the day were our four Under 14 girls, Hailey D’Ombrain, Laylah Connelly, Amelia Sim & Selin Onsel, three of these girls don’t normally race over 3k so we are very proud of their willingness to participate and place 5th in the Team section.
Rather short on teenage boys Cameron Harrison competing in his first ANSW event in the Under 14 3k was our lone competitor and ran exceptionally well to improve his time by over a minute. Another first timer was Reuben Pichler in the Under 16 4k also ran his best time by over a minute.
Unfortunately, Blake D’Ombrain in the same event was well below what he is capable of, nevertheless we are proud he managed to finish the event.
In the competitive Under 18 6k our two tri – athletes, Liam Hinchcliffe and Brooklyn Henry continue to improve their time over this distance and their 17th and 28th placing is certainly very commendable against the best athletes in the State. Two other commendable results were our two sixteen-year-old girls flying the Victory colours in the girls Under 18 4k event. Freya Robinson –Mills and Maddison D’Ombrain were certainly racing with the top athletes in the State and both also ran PB’s. Freya is also a first timer in an ANSW event.
The open male 12k event was very well represented throughout a good variety of clubs. Not to be completely outnumbered by our women in the 10k , Victory did field one entrant . Also a first timer to ANSW events and more comfortable as a tri-athlete competitor, Irwin Burbage managed to work around his work shifts and willingly entered the 10k challenge proudly finishing in 8th place in the 35 – 39 category.
Unfortunately, two athletes were unable to compete, Stewart Sim suffering from a nasty bout of the current ‘bug’ and Pam Henry had work commitments.
However, we also had some very important Victory members compete in the altogether All Age fun run.
Tackling their well-known 1k distance, 6-year-old flyer Layla Burbage was first home in a time of 5:20 which would be her best time. Sister Cailin was second and 4-year-old friend Riley Prince placed third. In the 2k our three representatives were Leela Matthews 10: 30 Ashley Spicer 11:30 and Johanna Pichler, possibly running with friends finished in 17:40. Just to even out Victory’s presence in the fun run, Josef and Kirsten Pichler and Laura Prince made up the final threesome for the 4k distance.
While reporting all competitors in the running events, the day would not have been successful if we did not have the great assistance from our very valuable volunteers. These 20 volunteers were made up of Victory members and family friends. Various tasks were, assisting on the course, parking cars, manning the drink station, handing out programs, assisting in the bib collection tent, working in the BBQ area, canteen and cake stall and donating goods for selling, please accept a very big THANK YOU from the Willandra caretakers. We value everyone.
We have been asked by the new CEO of AthleticsNSW, Kirin Lindop to pass on an earnest “Thank you everyone for your involvement to make 2019 XC Championship event an outstanding success.”
In reflections over the days following Saturday 22nd I was reminded of a quote shared with Victory Runners on an occasion in 2018. “Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success.” (Henry Ford)
Victory began, we have progressed and Saturday we experienced success through working together, as a ‘team of competitors’ and a ‘band of volunteers’. Thank you ALL for contributing to the success.