2021 Cross Country State Championships - Results, Report and Photos
Published Mon 23 Aug 2021
Harrison Bagley, left, and Bailey Dyer ran second and third in the Open Men's 10km Cross Country race, while Hills District Athletics Club runner Max Stevens claimed the State Champion honour.
Event date: 21/08/2021
See all the pictures from Saturday's event
With much of Australia in COVID-19 Lockdown conditions, the SA athletics community was grateful for the opportunity hold the rescheduled 2021 Cross Country State Championships, albeit on the day we were to host the National Championships.
The Victoria Park course was a challenging 2km loop with some tight turns and open straights on uneven ground. It provided a great spectacle as the athletes made their way through the tree-lined western side of the course, before escaping from the scrub for the finish line run.
Most of South Australia’s young distance talent was on show across all age-groups. A big thanks to the officials, volunteers and the spectators who came out to support athletes, as well as The Advertiser which provided a live stream of the event
Stevens takes Open Men’s 10km Cross Country Title
Open Men's State Champion Max Stevens crossing the bridge in the tree-lined western side of the 2km track.
Max Stevens (Hills) probably would have liked to have gone head to head with some of the State’s other top athletes (with many deciding to run Adelaide Marathon events), rather than lead from gun to tape on a five-lap course.
However, in a 10k race anything can happen. Stevens pulled away early and ticked off the laps to win comfortably. The battle for second was a great contest.
Bailey Dyer (FLN) held a 50m lead over Harrison Bagley (AH) in the first two laps, before Begley closed the gap and passed Dyer by the start of the last lap. Not to be outdone, Dyer pushed Bagley right to the line, but (Dyer) had to settle for third.
Stevens charged away in the first 100m to establish a lead and said the remainder of the race was a case of keeping a steady pace and an eye on his competators.
"It hasn't been this warm for a while so that knocked me around a bit," he said.
"It was a honest, challenging course which was good.
"I am starting to turn my attention to the summer track season, but I am planning to run in the couple of Athletics SA events - Ekiden relay and Fitzy's 5 - and then sharpen up to hit the track."
The podium:
1. Max Stevens (Hills) 32.32
2. Harrison Bagley (AH) 33.21
3. Bailey Dyer (FLN) 33.22
Hodgart wins Open Women’s 10km Cross Country Title
Open Women's State Champion Claire Hodgarth
With several key athletes running in the Adelaide Marathon events the following day (Sunday, August 22), it was Claire Hodgart (Saints) who grabbed her chance to win a State title in 42.33. Hodgart has been a consistent performer this winter and ran away from the second placed Brooke Webb (Hills), 44:18, and third placed Megan Ryan (Saints), 47.17.
"I am pretty exited to claim the State title," Hodgarth said post race.
"I am mainly just happy to have the chance to come out and have a competition run considering the eastern states are in lockdown.
"It was difficult running solo for the end part of the race, and I haven't been able to train as much in recent weeks having recently ran a half marathon time trial so I am super happy to have run so well considering my lead in."
The podium:
1. Claire Hodgart (Saints) 42.33
2. Brooke Webb (HILLS) 44.18
3. Megan Ryan (Saints) 47.17
All the other action
Women (U/14) 3km – In the first race of the day, pre-race favourite Tessa Ebert (PA), as expected, got away to an early lead and went on to win another title. Not far behind her was the ever-improving Elodie de Wit (AH) who managed to keep Hannah Tourneur (FLN) at bay to take the silver medal. All three athletes are national level calibre athletes.
(U/14) 3km – Cross country can throw up some challenges. It was unfortunate that Jordan Leane (FLN) went off-course early, but showed great sportsmanship by calling Jack Williams (Saints) back-on course later in the race. In the end, the talented Williams retained the title he won last year, just ahead of Leane and James Bowling (WA).
U14 Women's winner Tessa Ebert and U14 Men's winner Jack Williams.
Women (U/16) 4km – In the closest finish of the day Grace Deacon (FLN) had to work hard for her title, after Emma Henkel (ND) ran out to an early lead. In a tight contest Asha Lawson (FLN) wasn’t able to bridge the gap late in the race to take bronze, behind Henkel. Great to see three really talented young athletes giving their best over a tough course.
Men (U/16) 4km – Deacon Gore (Saints) controlled the race early and went on to win the title. However, as predicted, it was James Skelton (Mt B) who fought valiantly and pushed Gore right to the line to get a well deserved silver. Jake Hall (WA) managed to get in front of Hudson Miles (FLN) over the second lap to grab bronze.
Women (U/18) 4km – Tianna Cetta (UC) likes go fast early and the tactic paid off again as she was able to get a race winning lead over Molly Cook (PA) and Jessica McManus (PA).
Men (U/18) 6km – Cael Mulholland (AH) has arguably been the most improved athlete this winter. Running with confidence, Mulholland stayed with Jonathan Harris (Saints) and Torben Roberts (FLN) on the first lap before asserting his dominance. Harris was able to get the better of Roberts over the second half of the race.
Women (U/20) 6km – The pre-race expectations were that Caitlin Slobedman (Hills) would have the strength to outlast her competitors over 6km. While this turned out to be the case, Paige Cranage (AH) kept with Slobedman for two laps before dropping off, giving herself every opportunity for an upset. Hayley Poulish (UNA) ran her own race to get third.
Men (U/20) 8km – Adam Goddard (Saints) was too strong for this highly competitive field to take the title. In a tactical battle for the minor placing it was Arron Nitschke (AH) who ran strongly on the last lap of four to beat Marco Els (FLN).
Women (O/35) 6km – Lisa Davis (HILLS) was too strong for Meagan Palmer (FLN) taking out the title.
Men (O/35) 8km –Michael Nitschke (AH) made it back-to-back titles, but had Jordan Harvey (FLN) keeping him honest. Both would have be pleased (maybe not) getting the better of U20 athletes from their club. Steve Hodgson (FLN) another consistent performer this winter was third.
Women (O/50) 8km – Aligning the women’s distance to the men’s this year didn’t prevent Patricia Laird (AH) from getting out and taking the title from Felicity Alexander (Hills).
Men (O/50) 8km – Tony Jarrett (AH) was the class athlete of the field and as expected ran away with the title from Mike McAuliffe (FLN) and Paul Sutcliffe (FLN).
Event Conditions: Few Clouds/Clear 17-18 deg, humidity 64-67%, wind 5-13.6km/h from WSW-WNW
The U16 Men's and Women's race.
Premiership News
With three quarters of the season completed Flinders has all but wrapped the Open Men’s, O35&O50 Women’s and U14&U16 Women’s titles. They also lead the O35&O50 Men’s title from the Adelaide Harriers. Adelaide Harriers have a narrow lead over Flinders in the U18&U20 Men’s. The Women’s Open title is still up for grabs with Hills and Saints neck-and-neck. Port Adelaide, Hills and United Collegians could all still win the U18&U20 Women’s title.
The next Round of the Winter Premiership is the Ekiden Relay on September 4 at Bonython Park.
The Advertiser's livestream was operating throughout the event with comprehensive coverage of all five races.
Athletics SA offers a big thanks to commentators Leo James and Brett Fisk and special guests, Tokyo Olympians Matthew Clarke and Isobel Batt-Doyle, Athletics SA CEO Shane Fuller and Athletics SA statistician Paul Sutcliffe.