JAMES Davy, the man who stunned everyone with his brilliant performance in Sunday’s inaugural Run For Help Oncology Fundraiser, was full of praise for the oganisers of the event.
A competitive triathlete who is studying Exercise Science at the University of Wollongong, 21-year-old Davy blitzed the field in the 10km event, crossing the finish line in a time of 35.04
minutes.
Averaging three and a half minutes per kilometre over the
undulating course, Davy finished more than six minutes, or almost two kilometres in front of his nearest rival, Coota
teenager Jacob Tiernan who still had every reason to be proud of his time of 41.09 minutes.
Davy’s name will now be engraved on the perpetual shield and he has vowed to return to defend his title and at the same time spread the word about the fledgling event.
“It was a great run for a great cause,” Davy said.
“The course was good, a bit challenging on the way out as you had to climb a hill to the turnaround point and a bit quicker on the way home.
“The organisation was excellent and from what I could see on the road everyone was really enjoying themselves regardless of if they were running or walking.”
Davy, who’s next major event could be the 2010 City 2 Surf, said he was ‘pretty happy’ with his time.
“It’s hard to gauge if you haven’t run the course before,” he said.
“I’ve trained pretty hard over the past four weeks, so it was a good hit out.”
Coota’s Jacky Sheahan was the first woman across the line in the 10km event, stopping the clock at 43.54 minutes and, like Davy, is now focusing on the City 2 Surf.
Having recently competed in a 42km marathon on the Gold Coast, Sunday’s event was little more than a training run for the local personal instructor, however she was just as delighted to see many of her clients take on and conquer either the 10km or 5km run.
Tiernan was the first secondary school aged runner across the line, while 12-year-old Judd Kerrison received plenty of applause when he crossed the finish in a tick over an hour to claim the
primary school aged honours.
The 5km runners set off at a cracking pace knowing they only had half the distance to travel as their 10km counterparts and also didn’t have to contend with the steep hill at the 10km turnaround.
Former Coota resident Jenny Hart (nee Gurtner) was the first runner home across all categories, hitting the finish in 20.16
minutes, while Scott Meale, who admitted the last time he ran 5km was more than a decade ago, surprised even himself with a time of 22.43 to be the first over 18 male home.
Separating Hart and Meale was teenager Steve Cross who won the secondary boys division in 22.29 minutes, with Lily Hogan’s time of 31.24 earning her the honour of first secondary girl.
Visitors Lachlan Hunt and Samantha Cross won the primary divisions in times of 23.27 and 23.41 respectively.
A breakdown of the 164 registered competitors showed 45 adults completed the 10km run or walk, 79 adults covered the 5km journey, while 21 secondary and 19 primary aged kids were involved.
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