Harriers complete the RokebyTwilightTrail Run

Athletics Harriers

BY MILES VERSCHUUR

ASTRONG23-harriersquadron converged on the trails of Rokebyand Crossover on Saturday, for the Rokeby Twilight Trail Run, with representation in all distances on offer.

The first race of the day was the Kid’s twokilometre, where Louisa Semmler ran all the way to finish in 15 minutes exactly.

Next off the ranks were the 14.5km runners. This courseinvolved many twists and turns on technical trails, with about 450m of gained elevation, and required agood eye for navigation.

In terms of Harriers performance, Yani Cornthwaite finished 2nd for the females, amere eight seconds behind first place.

Her father, Ian, continues to tear up the trails, finishing 4th overall, against much younger (and shirt-wearing) competitors.

Also placing in the top 10 were Miles Verschuur (7th) and Greg Semmler (9th).

Ten minutes later, the 9.5km run commenced, following most of the 14.5kmcourse. Jay McGown finished 4th, only nine seconds off apodium place, impressing in the climb to the finish.

GeoffFranciscontinued his good spell of races with a12thplace finish

Kat Kent earned herself a10th-place female finish in astrong performance.

Following the 9.5km runners was the 6km run, with Mel Jones surging to a9th placefinish, followed by DesleyTulloch, Sam McGown,and Denise Twite.

LAST Thursday, the Harriers ventured into the Maryvale pine forests for the traditional 5.8km Chook Hill course.

Featuring plenty of ruts and potholes as well as achallenging uphill final kilometre,72Harriers (featuring threefirst-timers) were up to the task.

The frequent podium trio of Zack Beasley, Ian Cornthwaite, and Miles Verschuur once again led the men, with Dempsey Podmore knocking on the door of the top three.

Notably, the consistently improving junior, Jack Marino, finish in under 30 minutes on atough course.

KarenGraham, LizKenney, and Marieka Reilly earned notable positions in the Harriers women’s draw.

Rose Croft demonstrated how she has improved as arelatively new member with atimeof32.53 across the difficult terrain.

FIVE members of the Traralgon Harriers took part in the annual Snowgum Run at Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort on Saturday.

Four distances were on offer with 15km, 21km, 36km or 44km.

Three Harriers took part in the 15km event and two in the 21km half marathon distance in what is the club’s closest alpine event.

The 15km and 21km courses saw runners wind their way through mature, twisted snow gums as they go up andover Mt Baw Baw before venturing into the Baw Baw National Park and summitting both Mt St Phillack and Mt St Gwinear.

Podium: Peta Mullens (centre)with the second and third-placed finishers.

The 21km runners descended to the car park before returning to Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort. Entrants were treated to fabulous conditions with sunshine, mild mountain temperatures and apleasant cooling breeze.

Miles Verschuur finished second overall in the 15km event continuing his strong form from Thursday night runs,and a15kmevent at Rokeby aweek before.

David Hood and Ron Verschuur ran close together for the first half of the event, and by the finishwere only separated by afew minutes.

In the 21kmeventboth GlennCrawfordand Geoff Francisput in strong efforts; both climbed over 700 metres in elevation over the scenic half marathon distance with Crawford finishing six minutes ahead of Francis.

FORMER Harriers, Peta Mullens and Leanne Keating, were both successful on their bikes on the weekend.

In the first “gravel”race she had competed in, Leanne was top in her age group and high in the women’s rankings in the 49km Great OtwayGravel Grind (GOGG).

The GOGG is along dirt roads through the Great Otway National Park, with “tall timber forests, past massive tree ferns, lookouts, lakes and beaches”.

The GOGGallows for easy social riding or fast paced gravel racing that anyone can be part of.

“It allows timeout zones where you can wait for friends, and coffee stops (untimed) and is suitable for all types of bikes -gravel, MTB, CX or road.”

The GOGGisheld in conjunction with the Otway Odyssey MTB Marathons making an incredible double header weekend for any rider.

Dom Keatingdid the 100kmand 49km events and also the King of the Mountain and Red Carpet “sprint” events across the weekend.

Peta was first in the BMX event for her Roxsalt team.

Sinceshe was ateenage Harrier, Peta has won 12 Australian National titles across road, mountain andcyclocross eventsand represented Australia in theOlympic Games.

Both are an inspiration to the Harriers and to all young people.

THE 25thannual TraralgonHarriersCommunity Fun Run is fast approaching,onSunday, March 26. StartingfromKernot Hall withafestival atmosphere, on top of the 5km Run/Walk and 1.5km Kids Run, there are food stalls, lots of spot prizes, and the opportunity to give back to the community.

Entries are open andonline at www.traralgonharriers.org.au

Results:

Rokeby (Selected):

2km: Louisa Semmler 15:00

6km: Melissa Jones 59:13; DesleyTulloch 1.15:26; Samantha McGown 1.17:17; Denise Twite1.19:24

9.5km: JayMcGown 53:55; Geoffrey Francis 1:00:33; GaryFox 1:04:39; RonVerschuur 1:09:16; Phill Mayer

1:13:36; Kathleen Kent 1:14:40; Ann Bomers1:44:55

14.5km: Ian Cornthwaite1:09:29;Miles Verschuur

1:14:09; Greg Semmler 1:14:21;Yani Cornthwaite1:20:48; Stephen Renehan 1:25:21; Glenn Crawford 1:29:23; Travis White1:30:18; Ian Twite1:31:12; Anna Cardillo 1:33:39; David Hood 1:44:25; MarkLansdown 1:55:59; Bjorn

Luxmann 1:59:05

Chook Hill 5.8km ThursdayRun: ZackBeasley21.25; Ian Cornthwaite23.12; Miles Verschuur 23.46; Dempsey Podmore24.18; Glenn Graham 24.52; Darrel Cross 26.00; Stephen Renehan 26.50; Jason Odlum 27.13; Andrew Greenhill27.15;Chris VanUnen 27.59; Clinton Jolly

27.59; Jack Marino 29.05; KarenGraham 29.08; Geoff Francis 29.10; Chris Francis 29.59; Liz Kenney30.06; Pete Sanders30.13; Stephen McLeod 30.16; Giuseppe Marino 30.24; MariekaReilly30.27; JohnnyRoscoe 30.27; GaryFox 30.40; RonVerschuur 30.40; Andrew Broberg

31.31; David Barr 31.48; Errol Poole 31.51; Tobiasz Grzmil

32.33; Rose Croft32.53; Kathleen Kent 33.35; Louis Flowers 33.56; Shane Flowers33.56; Angeline Snell

33.59; Nelson Archibald 35.14; FelicityBeasley35.30; Maree Graham 35.36; Drew Hade 35.44; Michael Walker

36.09; Phill Mayer36.09; BjornLuxmann 36.37; Seth Bomers37.09; MarkFairbairn37.48; Callie Cook 39.09; Tania Whitehead 39.13; NickHodson 40.00; Belinda

Heafield 40.36; Alfie Warner 41.02; Ella Warner 41.02; Kylee Earl43.30; Ian Heafield 43.43; Ann Bomers46.43; BarryHiggins 47.07; Desmond Dalton 48.31; PeterGrixti

53.00; Bob Duljus 53.53; HarryPoole 54.00; Susan Poole

54.06; LukeWhitham 54.52; Christina Creighton 58.29; Lynda Jones 61.04; Danelle Wright 62.59; TimBye 62.59; JacintaWaddell 63.33; Collette Hofmann 63.33; Lea Frances 64.04; KathyQuinn 66.00; Michelle Colwell 66.00; Alli Triggs 66.00; Jodi Hammett66.12; Kaye Livingstone 67.00; WallyLappin 30.00*; Matilda Lappin 30.00*; Andrew Legge NTR BawBaw SnowGum Run(Selected): 15km: Miles Verschuur 1.26.25; David Hood 1.56.25; RonVerschuur

2.03.20

21km: Glenn Crawford 2.29.00; GeoffFrancis 2.35.16