<18.07.08> - Beijing Bound, via Launceston
18 Jul 2008
Media Release
Friday, 18 July 2008
Beijing Bound, via Launceston
Two members of the Beijing Olympic squad will this weekend have their final race before departing for Beijing.
Tasmanian steeplechaser Donna MacFarlane and Victorian marathoner Lisa-Jane Weightman will meet in the 2008 B & E Launceston Ten on Sunday.
MacFarlane, who recently returned home to Tasmania after a successful European racing campaign which saw her smash the Australian 3000m steeplechase record by over 6 seconds will return to the event where she placed second last year. While not known as a 10km road racer, defeat in Tasmania is rare for the TIS athlete and her sensational form has been no secret of late.
For Weightman, a fast 10km race will be just what the program ordered, a month out from the ultimate sporting moment, the Olympic marathon. The 29 year old tasted success winning the Skilled Burnie Ten last year in a personal best time of 33.22. Following a 13th place in this years London Marathon and 20th at the World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh in March, the race between the two Olympic bound athletes should be spectacular.
Athletics Australia’s distance co-ordinator Tim O’Shaughnessy agreed that this weekend’s race will form a significant part of both athletes Beijing campaigns. ”Lisa will be looking for a fast time before she heads to Townsville for some warm weather training . Donna will be after a solid hit-out to complement the training she has been doing. Both are not close to their Olympic distance but are fierce competitors when they get on the starting line.”
In only its second year, the Launceston Ten has built up a reputation as a race of importance on the national stage, after strong fields in 2007 brought Mark Tucker and Anna Thompson to seriously quick times over the distance. Tucker’s winning time of 28 minutes 39 seconds, was the fastest by an Australian anywhere on the road in 2007.
The field has grown in depth for Sunday’s race. Tucker will be back to defend his title, which for the somewhat retired runner, won’t be that easy. Perennial road race winner Marty Dent (ACT) will start as favourite, after Beijing bound Lee Troop opted not to travel the Bass Strait for the event.
Winner of the 10km event at the Gold Coast Airport Marathon a fortnight ago, Ben St Lawrence (NSW) enters the event in great form, as does his flatmate Tim Rowe who debuted over the 1/2 marathon distance on the gold coast, running 65.01.
After some impressive results in the USA recently, David McNeil also toes the line. His 13.35.07 run over 5000m in May, went largely unnoticed in Australia, but rest assured he will be in the mix on Sunday. Others to look out for in the men’s field include R4YL adirunner mentor Clint Perrett who recently won the Victorian 15km road championship, plus Australian marathon representatives Scott Westcott and Shane Nankervis.
The women’s field also boasts a posse of elite entrants. While not in the form she was when she won the Commonwealth Games marathon, Kerryn McCann will take to the streets, alongside Belinda Schipp (NSW) and Susan Michelsson.
Dual Olympian Kylie Risk, who recently placed second over this distance on the Gold Coast will attempt to add to her vast list of successes as will fellow Tasmanian and Melbourne Marathon winner Hanny Allston.
This year, the Launceston Ten will incorporate the Tasmanian 10km Road Running Championships for the first time, which as a result, will bring many of Tasmania’s best middle and long distance runners against each other.
In the past 12 months, Hobart’s Grant Page has won the 400m, 800m, 1500m, 10,000m (track) and cross country title. On Sunday, he will aim to claim his sixth state title in the past 12 months. He will be up against strong competition from Hobart’s Jason Allie and the inform Aaron Humphrey for the title.
The race for the women’s Tasmanian title will certainly feature many of the names already featured, alongside Hobart’s Angela Grimmond and Mel Daniels, plus Debbie Pauna of Launceston.
The B & E Launceston Ten will also be race number four on the Tasmanian Distance Runner of the year Series. For more information on the series, visit www.tasathletics.org.au.
With over $24,000 in prizemoney and significantly more entrants than its inaugural year, race organiser Kim Gillard said he is excited about the growth of the event. “We will be close on 2000 participants this year which is great for the community. The people of Tasmania and in particular Launceston, will also get to watch what is bound to be several great races in one, with the men’s and women’s fields extremely strong, as well as the race for the first Tasmanian’s over the line.
More information on the 2008 B & E Launceston Ten, visit www.launcestonten.com.au.
Contact Richard Welsh on 03 9820 3511 or 0409 820 248
End of release