XC1 - Race Report

Published Sun 21 Jun 2020

Rainy 13 deg, humidity 81%, wind 24.7km/h from WNW

Background
If anyone is reading this 20 years later, this event was the first official race back in South Australia since Covid-19 restrictions for the global pandemic cancelled the end of the 2019-20 track season. That was 92 days – seems like much longer! It wasn’t the best weather, but at least the rain abated for the actual races. Everyone coped with ‘no club tents’ and social distancing. Thanks to South Australian’s for following the tight restrictions imposed over the past few months, when led to easing of restrictions, enabling this event to be held pretty much as normal. A big thank you to ASA Officials and club volunteers for making this event happen. Despite the weather the fields were the biggest we have seen in recent years – plenty of athletes itching to get a taste of competition. Probably the more important factor was being able to catch up in person with our friendly community.

Batt-Doyle and Clarke show their class in the wet

The 4km Women’s race was won by Isobel Batt-Doyle (FLN) running for Flinders for the first time. Izzi who competed for Washington State University and ran in NCAA Div1 XC Championships got out in front and pulled away for a comfortable win over marathon mum Jessica Stenson (HILLS) and ace 800/1500 track star Sarah Eckel (HILLS). Hills Districts dominated the team event with a strong squad which has a great chance of wresting the female winter premiership from Adelaide Harriers.

In the Open 4km Men’s race, spectators got to see some quality cross country running. Matthew Clarke (HILLS) one of the smoothest movers got out in front early but could not shake off Adrian Potter (AH) and the talented Isaac Heyne (PEM) who is now relegated to second smoothest runner in SA. They finished in that order, but it was close. Jacob Cocks (FLN) led a strong Flinders squad who will be hoping to go back-to-back Winter Premierships in a season long battle with Adelaide Harriers.

It was great to see numbers increased in the younger age groups. Athletes from all three ages groups filled the first three places of the women’s 2k - Mikaela Jones (MTB) U16, Tessa Ebert (PA) U14, Victoria Cholsh (WA) U18. In the Men’s 2k Tom Millard (AH) won the U18s, Jonathan Harris (Saints) the U16 and James McManus (PA) the U/14. Adelaide Harriers look an early lead in the U18/U20 premiership and will be hard to beat. The women’s U14/U16 premiership had 9 clubs score points with Tea Tree Gully and Pembroke sharing the lead.

Plenty of athletes competed in the older categories. Michael ‘Shoe Geek’ Nitschke (AH) held off evergreen Robert Killmier (FLN) in a highly competitive O/35s. Colin Ambrose (FLN) blitzed the 11 strong field in the men’s O/50. Both Adelaide Harriers and Flinders will be in the mix for the O35/O50 premiership. Meagan Palmer (FLN) and Felicity Alexander (Hills) won their respective age-groups.

The 4km cross-country is usually held at Flinders University and the main trophy of the day the “Toby Schreier Cup” is awarded to the team which has good performances, depth and diversity – aggregated score of athletes. In a close battle Flinders (82) beat Adelaide Harriers (80) and Hills Districts (57).

The next Round of the Winter Premiership is XC2 on July 4, also held at Victoria Park. Entry is open Monday afternoon! Visit the Winter Hub for more info