Sydney University Athletics Club (SUAC) representative and SUSF Elite Athlete Program (EAP) scholarship holder Lara Tamsett crossed the line first over the weekend to win the Gold Coast Ten (10km), recording a time of 33:05.
It was Tamsett’s (Bachelor of Media and Communications) second win on the course after winning the 2011 Gold Coast ASICS Half Marathon.
Tamsett, who was impressive despite a heavy training block, finished ahead of fellow SUAC member Milly Clark (Bachelor Applied Science with Masters of Nutrition) who recorded a personal best time (34:25). SUAC’s Nat Archer (Bachelor of Science) finished 12th.
“I felt relieved to have crossed that finish line – it was a tough day in the office,” said Tamsett straight after the race.
“I leave on Monday for altitude training to prepare for Moscow [World Athletics Championships] in August.
“I kept thinking, God I hope they’re not too close behind me because they (Clark and Bridey Delaney who finished third) are speed demons.
“It’s a fantastic event and I love the atmosphere, staying in a nice hotel and eating at nice restaurants.”
In the men’s 10km race Neil Berry ran another personal best to finish fifth for SUAC, with Hugh Williams (Bachelor of Physiotherapy) in 11th.
On the Sunday morning SUAC athletes contested both the half and full marathon events as part of the Gold Coast Airport Running Festival.
In the half marathon Liam Adams broke the SUAC half marathon record to finish fourth in a time of 64:49. Russell Dessaix-Chin also recorded a top 30 finish running 70:55 for the distance.
In the marathon SUAC’s Nick Bellemore slashed nearly 20 minutes off his personal best time to finish 16th in the men’s race.
In Russia, SUAC has a number of athletes competing at the Summer Universiade.
James Nipperess and Ian Dewhurst cruised through to their respective finals, where both men are a chance for a medal.
James Nipperess will head into Thursday’s final of the 3,000m steeplechase as the fourth fastest qualifier (8:49.12). Russia’s Ilgizar Safiullin qualified fastest, recording a time of 8:48.27.
400m hurdler Ian Dewhurst qualified seventh fastest for tomorrow’s semi-finals (50.71). Japan’s Keisuke Nozawa (50.01) appears to be Dewhurts’s biggest threat.
Nicholas Hough missed out on the final of the 100m after finishing sixth in his race and 11th fastest overall, but looks to be in very good shape for the 200m later in the week.
In the women’s discuss finals, Alix Kennedy finished eighth, throwing 49.79m. This was a very pleasing result considering it was her first major senior international competition.
Athletes will continue to compete in Russia over the next week, with SUAC traveling to Ourimbah this weekend to contest the NSW Road Relay Championships.
