Stenson wins first State Title as a Mum in State 10km Road Championships

Published Mon 23 May 2022

Multiple Olympian and Hills Districts Athletics Club runner Jessica Stenson claimed her first State Title since becoming a Mum during Saturday's State 10km Road Championships at West Beach.

On what was a picture perfect morning for a run around the West Beach 5km loop, Stenson ran 32:59 to claim the Open Women's Title ahead of Hills teammate Jessica Pascoe (34:12) and Saints Athletics Club's Brooke Hines (35:31).

Find the full list of results here

"I am elated to win that one," Stenson said.

"(Son) Billy is two and a half now so it has been a long time coming - I really wanted it today.

"I have had a few injuries challenges of late, so that was my first race since a bone stress injury that I sustained in January.

"I knew I had strong competition in my training partner Jess Pascoe and last year's winner Brooke, but it was so good to get out there and feel injury free.

"I found my rhythm early and could enjoy most of the way around the course."

Jessica Stenson, bib 142, and Jessica Pascoe, 430, finished first and second in the Open Women's State 10km Road Championship on Saturday.

Son Billy and husband Dylan were at the finish line to cheer her home.

It was the first competitive race Stenson has run since the Melbourne Half Marathon in December.

"We have been training well, it is a smaller squad with some of our members (Matt Clarke, Isaac Heyne, Max Stevens, Caitlin Adams and Adam Goddard) away competing in the US," she said.

"There is a good buzz around the squad, with the crew overseas and the domestic races coming up."

The 34-year-old said she was now turning her focus to the Commonwealth Games Marathon in July.

In October Stenson ran the fourth fastest Marathon by an Australian Woman, running 2:25:13 in the Perth Marathon - an effort which was recognised at Athletics SA's 2021-22 Awards Presentation Luncheon on Sunday (May 22), where she was named the Open Women's out of Stadium Athlete of the Year and received the Keith Faulkner Trophy for the Best Performance in Distance Running.

Potter takes out the Men's State 10km

Club rivalry was at its best with Adelaide Harriers and Flinders looking like it would again be battling for the Open Men’s State Title.

Harrier Adrian Potter and Flinders' Jacob Cocks set a quick pace over the first lap, putting 200m on 2021 10,000m State Champion Riley Cocks (Flinders).

With J. Cocks aiming for the Gold Coast Marathon in early July, Potter probably wasn’t expecting to run so fast, but he had the finishing speed to tear away in the home straight and claim another State Title.

Potter clocked a Road PB 29:07, with J. Cocks trailing through at 29:11, while R. Cocks came through at 30:04.

The start of the Men's State 10km Road Championship race. Adrian, bib 431, won ahead of Jacob Cocks, 30, and Riley Cocks, front left.

"I had to work for it, Jacob pushed me all the way - I could hear his Alpha Fly's tapping along right behind me," Potter said.

"I am so happy with my time, it was perfect conditions and the course was quick so I am happy.

"I knew Jacob was in good shape so I knew it would be a good hit out, and with Launceston 10 in a few weeks, this was good for the confidence - I hope I can run around that 29:00 mark.

"I feel like I had a good track season and I think that I have brought some good form into the Roads."

Flinders' Luke Mitchell (fourth, 30:41) is arguably the most improved athlete (who hasn’t come through the junior ranks) over the past couple of years, showing his strong ‘kick’ which he used to good effect to narrowly beat Harriers pair Harrison Bagley (30:43) and Cael Muholland (30:47), all three running sub 30:50.

Mulholland took out the Men's U20 Championship, ahead of Jackson Rendall (34:20), while Harriers' Paige Cranage (37:30) won the Women's U20 Title, ahead of Tiana Cetta (37:43) of the United Collegians.

Hills' Lisa Davis (Hills) was too strong for Karen Pienaar (Harriers) and Alison Sorell (Flinders) in the Women's O35 championships, while Flinders' Jennifer Robertson was not far off 40:00, finishing well in front of Harriers pair Nola Paul and Patricia Laird in the Women's O50s.

Flinders' Robert Killmier (31:38) continues to dominate the Men's O35s with another impressive performance, smashing the SA Masters 35-40 10km Road record by two-minutes, beating Harriers Paul Mulholland and Sam Hicks.

One of the standout performances of the day was a superb sub 34-minute performance from Colin Ambrose (33:59) shattering his SA Masters 50-54 record he set two years ago. Pieter de Wit (Harriers, 35:32) and Chris Hartwig (Northern Districts, 37:28) filled the minor placing with solid efforts.

Dowd and Ebert lead the way in the 5km

In the 5km race, Harrier Thomas Dowd ran from the front to post 14:59, winning comfortably from United Collegian's Harry Whitford (15:42) and Oakley Nilsen (15:50).

National Women's U15 1500m Champion Tessa Ebert (Port Adelaide) led a quintet of super talented young female athletes who all ran fast for their age.

Ebert ran 17:47 and was the first female over the line.

Elodie de Wit (Harriers) has made significant improvements over the past nine months and was not far behind Eber, running 17:53.

Premierships

In the Men’s Winter Premierships, Flinders extended its lead in the Open competition, and remain in front in the U18 and U20’s, while narrowing the gap to Adelaide Harriers in the O35 and O50 Premiership.

Port Adelaide continued to lead the U14 and U16’s. In a tight contest Hills have wrestled the lead back in the Open Women, with Adelaide Harriers now in second and Flinders a close third.

Flinders extended its lead in the U14 and U16’s and held the lead in the O35 and O50 premiership. Port Adelaide continue to lead the U18 and U20 women’s premiership.

The next Round of the Winter Premiership is the Cross Country Relays on Saturday 4^th June (Victoria Park).

Results:

Women (5km): 1. Tessa Ebert (PA) 17.47; 2. Elodie de Wit (AH) 17.53; 3. Hannah Tourneur (FLN) 18:00; 4. Molly Cook (PEM) 18.12; 5. Asha Lawson (FLN) 18.22.

Men (5km): 1. Thomas Dowd (AH) 14.59; 2. Harry Whitford (UC) 15.42; 3. Oakley Nilsen (FLN) 15.50; 4, Hudson Miles (FLN) 16.03; 5. Samuel Plaice (FLN) 16.20.

Women (10km): 1. Jessica Stenson (Hills) 32.59; 2. Jessica Pascoe (Hills) 34.12; 3. Brooke Hines (Saints) 35.31; 4. Aleesha Robertson (AH) 36.36; 5. Sophie Hlipala (FLN) 36.55; 6. Paige Cranage (AH) 37.30; 7. Tiana Cetta (UC) 37.43; 8. Coralie Duckworth (AH) 38.3; 9. Anna Plew (AH) 39.05; 10. Lisa Davis (Hills) 39.43.

Men (10km): 1. Adrian Potter (AH) 29.07; 2. Jacob Cocks (FLN) 29.11; 3. Riley Cocks (FLN) 30.04; 4. Luke Mitchell (FLN) 30.41; 5. Harrison Bagley (AH) 30.53; 6. Cael Mulholland (AH) 30.47; 7. Lachlan Scott (FLN) 31.28; 8. Bailey Dyer (FLN) 31.32; 9. Tom Lancaster (FLN) 31.36; 10. Ben Cartwright (AH) 31.37.