Records Tumble, Runners Stumble – The Legend Lives

Check out the basic results and an event report here.  Split times, category placings, photos, updated records (Well Done Joe, Marcus, Davo, Lou, Olivia, and Sue)  and more reports to follow soon. And so the legend continues.

A healthy crowd of courageous Trail Runners ignored reports of wait-a-while, leeches and cyclone carnage to tackle Sunday’s second annual Speewah Legend Footrace. Barron Gorge National Park and its challenging but rewarding trails played host to the event with the scenic Speewah Campground the Start and Finish for all three courses on offer.

In the women’s premier 17km event all three placegetters (Sue Crowe 1:48:42 , Tara Taylor 2:04:16 and Julie Lightfoot 2:06:44) went under the record set in 2010 (2:08:09) while the track conditions and a spectacular fall to Men’s 17km winner David Wood (1:38:49) late in the event may have cost him a shot at the record set in 2010 (1:37:08). Following Dave home in impressive performances were Matt Hermann (1:47:48) and Craig Mann (1:48:53).

In the 8km event National Junior Champion Bini James (40:38) again took the honours while experiencing the rewards (Cassowary sightings) and pitfalls (facefuls of Golden Orb Spiders webs) of leading the pack on a rainforest run. Bernadette Tooman led home the muddy field of female runners over the 8km course while Douglas runner Lou Oliver and Davo Giordimaina were first female and male home in the 4.4km event.

Full results are available and entries are open for the upcoming Gold Rush Trail Marathon (with shorter options) here.