Sandown Road Races

Women

The women’s race was run simultaneously with the men’s race. Box Hill was represented by Alice Baquie, Rachel Johnson, Sarah Grahame, Fiona Turner, Jess de Bruin, Amanda Harper, Hayley Tomlinson and Megan Sloane. In the Men’s race we saw Andrew White, Daniel Clark, Steve Dineen, John Meagher, Barry Lynch, Adrian Vincent, Simon Watson, Duayne Christou, Ruben Arunasalam, Dipnall, Graeme Olden, John Vaitkunas, long-time member Bill Dyer, Barry Whittle and Brett Nuske.

Alice Baquie ran off from the start extremely fluently, exhibiting great cadence, in touch with a number of the leading women. Anna Thompson soon broke clear from Kylie Dick and Lisa Jane Weightman. Rachel Johnson looked like she was enjoying herself, and was performing strongly a little further back, just behind Sarah Grahame our well credentialed junior. Fiona Turner, Jess de Bruin, Hayley Tomlinson and Amanda Harper were just behind these two. Further back was Megan Sloane.

ResultsAlice continued to run really well during the race, finishing a close 5th, two seconds behind Kylie Dick of Doncaster, who was 4th. The winner, Anna Thompson, Glenhuntly, pulled away from Lisa Jane Weightman, Ringwood, second, early in the race and Robyn Millard, APS, was third. Box Hill’s other female competitors continued to run well, especially Rachel Johnson who looks likely to enjoy a very strong winter season. The Section 1 team combined to secure second place and the Section 2 team placed third, good results for Box Hill.

Men

The Men’s race, although competitive until the end, appeared to lack depth and the leading times were modest by comparison to previous years on this relatively fast, although unprotected course. Leading Runners at the end of the first lap included Rod de Highden, Toby Rayner, Craig Semple who took the lead, Michael Chettle, Rowan Walker, Magnus Michelsson, Lee Troop, Liam Addams and Andrew White from Box Hill was tucked in the leading bunch, holding seventh place. Daniel Clark, who later withdrew with a breathing difficulty, John Meagher and Steve Dineen were running in close proximity to each other. A little further back was Barry Lynch, followed by Adrian Vincent, with a long gap to Simon Watson, returning from Achilles problems, Sam Dipnall and Duayne Christou.

The leading bunch hadn’t changed greatly at the conclusion of the second lap, although several athletes had become detached, and Lee Troop had exerted his influence, and Michael Chettle was responding with Andrew White in contact but not looking as comfortable as he had been in the first lap.

A sprint finish occurred to decide the race with Lee Troop outlasting Toby Rayner by five or so metres with Rowan Walker a further five or six metres further back. Andrew White led in Box Hill’s fourth placed Division 1 team, slipping back to 10th place, a creditable performance. Steve Dineen moved past John Meagher in the final lap to record one of his highest placings, 19th, from John Meagher, 20th. Adrian Vincent ran a solid third lap to place 34th, with Barry Lynch fading in the third lap, 47th. Duayne Christou, 96th completed the Division 1 team.

The official results seemed at variance with the running watch times at the finish, so athletes who timed themselves might do well to rely on their own time.

Leading Open Men’s 10 K Road Performances

Box Hill Performances (note that Lap 1 times include the extra distance from the start)
Open Men’s 10 K Road

Teams Division 1
1. Glen Huntly   70
2. Doncaster     85
3. Geelong      147
4. Box Hill     190
5. Knox         299
6. APS          356

Division 3
1. Glen Huntly  445
2. Mel. Uni     609
3. Geelong      646
4. APS          738
5. Mentone      765
6. Box Hill     793

Men’s 40+
1. Keilor St Bernards 23 
2. APS United         37 
3. Box Hill           58 

Teams Division 1
1. Glenhuntly 48
2. Box Hill   89
3. Eureka     99

Teams Division 2
1. Geelong    67
2. Traralgon 127
3. Box Hill  136

Under 16 5K Men
13 Danny Krause  19:47

Under 20 5K Women
5 Kate Wall 20:26