We got through another year. It’s a big job, but it’s worth it to see so many happy and smiling faces and to know that we’re doing a good thing for the promotion of health and fitness in our community. Here’s the 2016 event report:
EVENT REPORT
With cooler temperatures on course this year compared to 2015 and 2014, and more support on course than ever before, the 2016 event was probably the best yet. Bringing the Half Marathon and 10km events forward also helped to ensure that Marathon and HM entrants weren’t hindered by too many 10km entrants this year.
It is regrettable that the HM started 4 minutes earlier than scheduled – an error we accept full responsibility for having not correctly aligned our count down timer to the time of day. This will be avoided with a double sided clock at the start line in 2017.
Whilst discussing the HM event, we’re pleased that it achieved the highest participation rate in its history. Exactly 300 finishers and some outstanding times were achieved. Michael Daly’s 1:10:25 was an event record by some margin (previously Paul Marsh, 1:15:31 in 2013).
Claire Ashworth was first female in a time of 1:21:25. This was the second best HM time here in Wangaratta, having only been bettered by Sarah Klein’s 1:16:09 in 2014.
The Marathon field achieved 129 finishers this year from 156 entries. With a few DNS and pre-event withdrawals or distance changes, we were satisfied with that number. In 2015 there were 178 finishers in the long event. We were fortunate that there were no event clashes in 2015 and no accommodation issues here in Wangaratta last year; issues that affected numbers this time around.
If we can avoid some issues with scheduling and local accommodation in 2017 then we hope to achieve a few more marathon entrants. With a 6:30am start again likely, and if the weather can be the same as this year, then it’s a delightful time to be running along the banks of the Ovens River and One Mile Creek.
Though marathon numbers were down, performances were up. We had 10 competitors finish under 3 hours, including female race winner Rachael Glasson who completed the two-lap course in 2:56:02. That was a race record, beating the time of 3:02:21 set by Kelly-Ann Varey in 2015.
Cameron Hall won the men’s event in 2:46:30 which was a back to back win for him here in Wangaratta.
We had a couple of DNF in the marathon. Due to the milder conditions the number of non-finishers was reduced from 2015 and St John’s reported that there were no significant health issues this year.
Brady Threlfall’s consistency and ability were again rewarded this year as he completed a hattrick of wins in the 10km event and established a new race record. His time of 32:01 bettered his 32:40 in 2015, and 32:18 in 2014.
Spare a thought too for local athlete Ben Derrick, who won a hilly half marathon on Saturday and then finished fourth outright in the 10km event here on Sunday with a time of 36:45.
On three-peats, Tarli Bird also successfully achieved that feat with a win in the ladies 10km event.
Of the 348 finishers in the 10km event, there were nearly 100 locals who walked the distance. This is a good example of the event achieving its mission of “more people moving more often”. The event is geared to cater for all abilities and we’re pleased that many entrants choose to walk a challenging distance to both support the event and achieve improvements in their health and fitness.
The local community supported this event tremendously this year. With over 100 people on course to support entrants and from at least 16 different community groups, business and organisations we are proud of the effort and support displayed. We have had much feedback from entrants about the volunteer army and its support and we remain grateful to all those that gave generously of their time to ensure entrants would finish with memorable and positive thoughts.
The 5km event saw nearly 500 people complete the distance, with Zave Talbot holding off Michael Gottschling and Tristan Boal to take the win in a time of 18:06.
Ladies winner, Brooke Williams, managed to complete the course in 20:27. Brooke’s time has only been bettered previously by Stacey Clarkson, who won this event in 2014 in a time of 19:46 and 2014 runner up Alissa Rhodes (20:05).
The 10km and 5km courses were changed for this year and with the earlier start for the 10km event helped to ensure that congestion on the course was minimised. With feedback after 2015, and feedback leading into and after this year’s event, we will likely change courses again in 2017 even though the courses were well received this year.
With a new sealed path system behind the development at the Western end of Cambridge Drive, we hope to remove the Trotman Drive section from the marathon and HM course in 2017. As this is a significant movement off the current AIMS / IAAF certified course it provides us with an opportunity to make other modifications as well. This may mean that the marathon & HM do not use the Apex Park, Ovens River Boulevarde section.
This would allow us to use the park and café precinct for the 5km and 10km event as we did back in 2013. 10km and 5km entrants have indicated that they prefer the Apex Park section to be in the course, but due to the timing of events and participation rates we experienced too much congestion to continue that this year with the marathon & HM events having to use that area.
Stay tuned for more details. We hope to be able to provide a set of proposed courses for consideration by the end of March. We welcome feedback from entrants in all events prior to that.
The 2km Primary School Challenge went extremely well this year. By having a two-loop course, 6 marshals, more barriers and tape, we were able to contain the field better than ever before. We had wondered if children would become restless with a 20 minutes gap between starts, but with entrants in each wave coming back over the start line it enhanced the experience for entrants and spectators.
We will probably stick with this format in 2017, possibly even bringing the first wave of the 2km event forward to 9am if the other course planning and event timing comes together as we hope.
Times in the 2km event were outstanding. The best time of the day was achieved by Flynn Hill in the 9+ category. His 7:31 has no doubt been achieved through good training and by participating at the local parkrun each week where he mixes it near the front with faster runners.
The best girls time on the day was set by Edyn Hill, who is the sister of Flynn. Edyn managed 8:40 and with Flynn has added nicely to the bonus points in the Primary School Challenge for St Bernard’s.
Outstanding times were achieved across the board in the 2km event. Kyle Pearce (8:16) and Stellar Bennett (9:18) managed first place in the 7-8 age group, and Levi Draper (9:12) with Amy Johnston (10:51) were victorious in the under 7’s. We noted that quite a few parent / carers (of which there were nearly 160 across all 2km events) struggled to keep up with their children. These kids are quick!
We’ve worked through the results and can now also declare the winners of the Community Teams and Primary School Challenge competitions. Well done to Pizzini Wines who are victors in the Community Teams and to Wangaratta parkrun who were drawn as second.
Well done to St Patrick’s Primary School who are the winners of the Primary School Challenge, holding off Cathedral College, 2015 Winners Milawa Primary and St Bernard’s.
As always, it is our sponsors, partners and supporters that allow us to deliver these events at prices much lower than their equivalents around the country. We’re committed to keeping entry fees as low as possible so we can achieve that mission of “more people moving more often”.
To the Garry Nash First National Real Estate Team and the Rural City of Wangaratta as our major sponsors in 2016 we say thanks.
We extend our greatest thanks to the team on course. Around 100 volunteers gave up their morning – and in many cases at least one or two days in the lead-up – to help entrants experience regional hospitality at its best.
Thank you for your attendance and interest, and stay tuned for developments relating to 2017 as they happen. The Facebook page will be the best source for this, the address being https://www.facebook.com/WangarattaMarathon
We welcome your feedback, as it will help to ensure that we can deliver an even better event in 2017. We would prefer your feedback by email to racedirector@wangarattamarathon.com.au