[Extract from the VRWC "Heel & Toe" Newsletter - with thanks]
Wow, what a day! A total of 96 walkers competed at Albert Park on Sunday and a number walked in more than 1 event – meaning we had well over 100 walking times recorded for the day. This made this our biggest domestic carnival for many years. The forecast showers did not eventuate and conditions were just about perfect for fast racing.
First to the 20 km events which the Open and Masters walkers contested. Three performances in particular deserve special attention.
Tom Barnes won the Victorian Men's 20 km title with a time of 1:27:45. This was a big PB for Tom (previous best of 1:29:05, done in Canberra in January 2007). His main aim was to beat the 1:28:00 qualifying time for the World University Games and he had received permission from AA chief selector Peter Fitzgerald to have this race considered for selection purposes. With this in mind, VRWC ensured that we used our AIMS certified 2 km loop, we had a full set of qualified judges and we started the men's and women's events started 5 minutes apart. And Tom really produced the goods with his huge walk.
Megan Szirom won the Victorian Women 20 km title in a time of 1:36:55, only 2 seconds outside her PB and a time that ranks her 4th in terms of 2008 World Cup selection rankings. She had a spirited battle with NSW walker Cheryl Webb until Cheryl retired at around the 15km mark.
Masters walker Andrew Jamieson beat his own World Masters M60 20 km world record by 19 secs with his time of 1:35:55. The paperwork will be submitted to claim this as a new Masters World record and we are confident that the time will be ratified. Andrew came second in the Victorian 20 km title with his fine effort.
AV 20 KM OPEN MEN CLUB 10K 20K
1. BARNES, Tom MUU 43.11 87.45
2. JAMIESON, Andrew OSC 47.52 95.57
3. DONAHOO, Mark ATE 51.30 103.16
4. KOLLMORGEN, Stuart COL 51.05 103.40
5. KNOX, Duncan ATE 57.44 115.16
6. EVANS, Simon BOH 52.28 DNF
VMA 20 KM MEN 10K 20K PLACE
PATTERSON, Adam M35 53.21 155.43 1
DONAHOO, Mark M45 51.30 103.16 1
EVANS, Simon M45 52.28 DNF
LUCAS, Alan M55 60.25 123.31 1
WOOD, Robin M55 67.23 136.05 2
PROWSE, Frank M55 65.58 DQ
BENNETT, Ralph M65 57.07 115.34 1
DICKENSON, Russ M60 57.59 115.56 2
DICKENSON, Murray M65 58.52 121.14 3
VRWC 20 KM OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP -ALF ROBINSON TROPHY
1. BARNES, Tom 87.45
2. JAMIESON, Andrew 95.57
3. DONAHOO, Mark 103.16
4. KOLLMORGEN, Stuart 103.40
5. KNOX, Duncan 115.16
6. BENNETT, Ralph 115.34
7. DICKENSON, Russ 115.56
8. DICKENSON, Murray 121.14
9. LUCAS, Alan 123.31
10.WOOD, Robin 136.05
11.PATTERSON, Adam 155.43
EVANS, Simon DNF
AV 20 KM OPEN WOMEN CLUB 10K 20K
1. SZIROM, Megan RWD 47.38 96.55
2. RUSSELL, Yolanda GLG 54.51 112.33
3. BANNISTER, Lynette TAS 55.45 114.38
4. CARR, Heather EAG 56.23 116.45
5. BRYANT, Barbara EAG 59.23 119.58
6. MAJOR, Annette EAG 59.23 128.45
VRWC 20 KM OPEN WOMEN
WEBB, Cheryl NSW 47.17 DNF
VMA 20 KM WOMEN 10 K 20 K PLACE
MAJOR, Annette W40 59.23 128.45 1
TINDAL, Pam W45 60.48 122.39 1
BRYANT, Barbara W50 59.23 119.58 1
CARR, Heather W55 56.23 116.45 1
FELDMAN, Liz W55 60.48 122.39 2
BEAUMONT, Margaret W65 73.09 158.47 1
For the complete article, read the VRWC Newsletter