Sri Chinmoy Centennial Park 14, 7 & 4km Race Report

The modern steeple-chase includes water troughs on a synthetic track - a quaint hangover from the peculiarly English notion that any proper cross-country course (as the steeple-chase originally was) must include getting wet - and preferably muddy - as a necessary feature.

Such purists would have been pleased to awaken this morning to the pitter-patter of gentle rain, sent it seems to 'soften up' the tracks of Centennial Park in preparation for the Sri Chinmoy 14 km, 7 km & 4 km cross-country races. The pitter-patter had become a mild deluge by the time the race got under way, ensuring not even the most pernickety puddle-o-phobe would remain unmuddied. The rain in turn made way for sunshine so fierce that the final few kms of the long race became a toil in the heat.

Despite the muddy conditions, every winner of every category in every race with the exception of the Under 13 girls in the 4 km, set new course records! This may be partly because the only time these races were previously held (in September last year), it was even wetter and muddier than today...

The 4 km race was last to start and first to finish, with Boys Under 17 entrant Jordan Williams winning the race outright in 14:48, a fine time in the conditions. Girls Under 17 runner Emily Hancock narrowly missed emulating Jordan's feat, finishing second overall to Rebecca Gorman in 17:46. Fine races also from Emily's younger sister Isabelle, winning the Girls Under 13 division in 21:57, and Benjamin Moss taking the Boys Under 13 title in 18:21.

Dimitri Kontopos set the 7 km course alight (figuratively), finishing a minute and a half ahead of his nearest rival in an outright course record of 23:48. Lucy Starrat meanwhile ran an even more impressive race to finish in 25:27, just behind 2nd place outright. Other outstanding performances in the 7 km race came from James Bok, winning the Male 60-69 division in a dashing 30:25, and the ever-green Norma Wallett, 1st place Female 70+ in 48:49, just behind Lidy Groen in the Female 60-69 division.

While 64% of the 7 km field were female, over 67% of the 14 km field were male, indicating... no idea, but a statistic none the less.

The Under 50 men's 14 km race saw a ding-dong 3-way tussle for most of the race, with Richard Green (53:12) outsprinting Craig McLear by a second. Pete Conway completed the trifecta, all 3 besting the previous course record. Aurelie Daix was first woman home in 1:03:06. also a course best time. Ray James saw off John Dawlings to take out the men 50-59 course record in 1:01:17, and Linda Barwick led the women 50-59 home in 1:18:16, only a few minutes behind Steve Dennett's 1:15:54 in the men 60-69.

Full category results are published, along with a photo album from the race.

The next race in the Sri Chinmoy Sydney Series is back to Iron Cove for 16 km, 8 km and 4 km on Sunday 18 May. If you are not racing the SMH Half Marathon, or would prefer a shorter distance or a smaller crowd, we look forward to seeing you there. Online entries are now open.