Sydney University Athletic Club’s female distance runners dominated the NSW Road Relay Championships held at Ourimbah over the weekend, finishing first and second in the 4x4km event.
SUAC’s A team of Jenny Blundell, who ran the fastest leg of the day, Milly Clark who was just a second slower despite having won the Gold Coast Half Marathon only six days earlier, Miranda Middleton and anchor Emily Ryan won the event by almost five minutes.
The second-placed B team consisted of Claire Miles, Claire Raper, Nicole Fagan and Davina Smith.
The win takes the SUAC women to second position on the Winter Premiership table, just two points behind Athletics Easts with four events remaining.
SUAC’s men’s A team had to be content with a second-place finish after a hip injury to first leg runner Alex Pettigrew on the first lap cost them valuable time. They eventually finished 90 seconds behind Randwick-Botany Harriers.
SUAC coach Dean Gleeson said Pettigrew did very well to finish the race and give his team a chance to gain points in the Winter Premiership.
“James Nipperess took the baton in second position and ran the fastest split of the day, rounding off his preparations for the Commonwealth Games,” Gleeson said.
“SUAC’s third leg was run by Peter Costello, who ran a personal best on the course, and Ronan Casey anchored the team into second place.”
SUAC’s B team finished just outside the medals in fourth place.
The SUAC men hold a commanding 40-point-lead over Randwick-Botany Harriers in the Winter Premiership.
The next event on the calendar will be the NSW Short Course Championships, to be held at Upjohn Park on August 2.
