Sydney University Athletics Club runner James Nipperess rounded out his Commonwealth Games preparation by winning the NSW Cross Country Championship at Nowra on Saturday.
Having finished second at his previous three attempts, Nipperess won his first NSW Cross Country title by a clear margin from his training partner and winner of last year’s City to Surf, Ben Moreau, a Randwick Botany Harriers runner.
The win was a nice tonic for Nipperess, who will run in the 3000m steeplechase at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
SUAC’s men’s team won the teams’ race in a close tussle with Randwick Botany Harriers. The team included Nipperess (1st), Peter Costello (9th), Nick Bellemore (10th) and Lachlan Chisholm (11th).
In the women’s event, SUAC’s Milly Clark finshed 3rd, while Miranda Middleton (5th) and Emily Ryan (8th) posted their best runs of the season.
And Kate Spencer won the Under 20 women’s race for SUAC, beating home Jessica Hull by 9sec in a time of 21min 21sec for the 6km course.
SUAC men sit on top of the table in the Athletics NSW Winter Premiership, with SUAC women just nine points behind Athletics East in a battle that will go down to the wire with five events remaining in the 2014 Winter Premiership.
For photos of the event and more information about SUAC, visit www.facebook.com/SUACinfo
