Rain Doesn't Deter Record Cross Country Field
29 Jun 2009
Near on 1200 secondary students from 55 schools around Tasmania will tomorrow tackle traditional cross country conditions in the 2009 IGA Tasmanian All School Cross Country at Symmons Plain Raceway.
With pre-entries already outnumbering last year’s 1152 participants, it is anticipated that close to 1200 will take part once late entries pour in, just as the rains have done in recent weeks.
Each year the IGA Tasmanian All Schools Cross Country continues to grow and is now being seen as a mass participation event, rather than a race only for elite. Rest assured however, the states best teenage distance runners will be on show tomorrow, as the race also doubles as the selection trial for the Tasmanian team to attend the Australian All Schools Cross Country Championships in Nowra, NSW from August 28 – 31.
The timetable for tomorrow is;
|
Event No. |
Start Time |
Distance |
Age Group |
|
Event 1 |
10.30 am |
8000 m |
Under 20 Men |
|
Event 2 |
10.35 am |
6000 m |
Under 20 Women |
|
Event 3 |
11.05 am |
6000 m |
Under 17 Men |
|
Event 4 |
11.13 am |
3000 m |
Under 14 Women |
|
Event 5 |
11.28 am |
6000 m |
Under 18 Men |
|
Event 6 |
11.38 am |
4000 m |
Under 18 Women |
|
Event 7 |
11.45 am |
3000 m |
Under 14 Men |
|
Event 8 |
12.00 pm |
4000 m |
Under 15 Women |
|
Event 9 |
12.15 pm |
4000 m |
Under 15 Men |
|
Event 10 |
12.25 pm |
4000 m |
Under 16 Women |
|
Event 11 |
12.35 pm |
4000 m |
Under 16 Men |
|
Event 12 |
12.45 pm |
4000 m |
Under 17 Women |
The annual event when combined with the primary day next Wednesday is the biggest school sporting event in Tasmania, with over 2500 lining up in all events last year.
Following the set up of the course on Sunday, a solid downfall of rain overnight has only increased the tough conditions of the course, with organizers ensuring the event will proceed. “No amount of rain or mud will cancel this event. If lightning strikes, we will have another look at it, but participants can expect to get nice and dirty tomorrow,” said Athletics Tasmania’s Development and Marketing Coordinator Richard Welsh.
Action gets under way at 10:30am at Symmons Plains Raceway.