The 2016 professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania season got underway on Sunday with race 1, the Burnie Sports Power 5 kilometre handicap, starting at West Beach, Burnie.
Warm and still conditions greeted the eighty-six starters as they made their way along the boardwalk to the rear of West Park and then along the walking path to Cooee and return.
The shorter, flatter courses usually suit the front markers and this proved to be the case on Sunday, Aileen Powell quickly took the lead from the go marker, John Lucas but with strong bunches working together she was eventually run down, although hanging on for an excellent fifth. Somerset runner Symone Denby off 4:10, took the lead about the four kilometre mark and ran away for a comfortable win.
This was Symone’s first win with the club and followed a year off which was forced on her by a run of niggling injuries. However, a strong summer of training, including regular runs with the Coastal Running Club, saw her back in great form once again. She gave herself a reasonable chance of success before the race but was still thrilled to cross the line first after about fifty starts with the club.
Father and son, Dwayne and Lachlan Barry finished close together in second and third. Michelle D’Monte, for whom a win must be very close finished fourth. She was fastest female in a time of 21:15.
The best of the backmarkers were Julian Lesek and Thomas Murton, in seventh and eighth respectively. Thomas won two races last year but this young gun has continued his improvement and will obviously be a force again this year. Thomas ran the fastest time of 16:05.
Further back, strong results were recorded by Brad Taylor (eleventh) and Bryan Tuit (thirteenth), while Ann Horton showed a win is not far away finishing in fourteenth.
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