Coburg Harriers Club Cross Country Championships
Harold Stevens Athletics Track
Saturday, 16 August 2008

A very small field lined up to take the 2008 Coburg Harriers Club Cross Country Championships. Heavy rain during the week turned sections of the course into quagmire, with muddy tracks along the fenceline of the track and parkland under water on the western side of the course

In the men's race, interest was centred on whether Liam Magee could challenge for the title, while the women's race had only two entrants with a two person battle between Stacey Van Dueren and Yolanda Shaw. And in the junior section, Leah Polycarpou was the sole participant

To the race, and Jeremy Grey established an early lead and had established a forty second gap through the first 3.3 kilometre lap. The second lap proved more of the same, although Grey was not able to extend the lead too much with 1:15 separating the two at the bell lap. The last lap took a toll on both runners and the early pace told on Grey as he and Magee recorded identical last lap splits. But in the end it was Jeremy Grey winning his fourth consecutive Cross Country Championship with 38:31

Stacey Van Dueren took out the women's race with 47:13, which was good enough for sixth place overall. And in the junior event, despite running on her own Polycaropu recorded an excellent 31:26 in the shortened 6.6 kilometre race. This is an improvement of 90 seconds on her previous best over the distance on this course. All the more remarkable when you consider the heavy conditions

There was only one overage category contested with both Len Hallett and Brian Delaney fighting it out in the 50 + section. It was Brian Delaney who took this out with 54:30

So in the end some very strong performances, soured somewhat by the very poor turnout with just eight open aged men contesting the event. This is a real shame given this event has been running since the inception of the club in 1896 and should be afforded more status than it currently enjoys among club members

Thanks to Mohamed Reese and Life Member Harold Stevens who were in attendance - both former winners of the event. Also to Life Member Mal Owen who assisted in the proceedings and to recorder Chris Harrap

Later that night at the Trivia Night, the men's and women's winners were presented with a sash, donated by Benny Tancredi and many thanks to Benny Tancredi for adding a new dimension to the Championships

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