There’s gold in them thar hills
Lake Wendouree 15km
On a crisp winter morning, a bus load of MUAC athletes headed for the gold rush town of Ballarat, and the roads around Lake Wendouree. Over the last four years, the Lake Wendouree race has transformed from a 15km road race around an empty paddock to 15kms around what is most definitely a lake. Replete with swamp hens and the odd confused swan wondering how it will ever make its way back through the steady stream of runners, Lake Wendouree is a pleasant spot to watch our athletes tear up the asphalt. And tear it up they did.
The performance of the day must go to Sophie Barker, who ran a beautifully smooth race to take out first place in a time of 54.35.35. Barker is currently in equal first place in the individual AV ladders. The Division 1 team of Barker, Julie McNamara, Melissa Natasha and Rosie Donegan came home in 5th place, with McNamara also running a PB.
In the men’s racing, Division 2 men continued their season form, winning by almost 200 points. Solid runs from Zac Newman, Dave Paroissien, and Nic Browne, who all cruised through in under 51 minutes. They were amply aided and abetted by Hamish Beaumont, Grant Morgan, and Andrew Selby-Smith. The division 3 men have been working together all season to push for faster times, encouraging one another and demonstrating team camaraderie. Ben Franzi, Matthew Irons, Dave Ulbrick, Tim Thomas and Chris Xu finished in 4th place. In Division 5, Tim Robinson, Tony Brain, Dion Houtman and Jacob Darlison came in 3rd, securing the teams first place position in the overall season ladders.
