Olympic 5km representative Collis Birmingham finally ended a three year dominance of the Asics Bolt by Martin Dent in near record time to claim his first Asics Bolt title, while Sydney youngster Lara Tamsett upstaged Australia’s best in Benita Johnson to successfully defend her title.
Noosa’s Super Saturday served up a smorgasbord of sporting fare, under clear blue skies and in front of thousands of spectators and in typical Bolt style, the pace was fast and furious from the gun on the four lap course with one of the best fields assembled in recent times.
As the gun fired so to did the crack field that contained Scott Westcott, 2007 Bridge to Brisbane winner, Ryan Gregson, Australian junior champion over 1500m and 5000m, Beijing Olympic 1500m representative Jeff Riseley crowd favourite and marathon man Lee Troop. American Bobby Curtis in his debut road race.
Over the four laps there were a number of lead changes and the big pack picked up the pace at the half way mark, Troop being the first casualty off the back.
“Everyone had a go and it was one of the quicker ones I’ve done,” said Birmingham post race.
Birmingham didn’t take the lead until late in the race but admitted that was when he needed it - at the finish, out kicking Jeremy Roff and Curtis.
“I’ve podiumed here a lot and after finishing second to Marty (Dent) last year this is a sweet victory,” said Birmingham.
“This is one of Australia’s biggest road races, so one of my biggest wins,” he added.
After his disappointment at not making the final in Beijing, Birmingham has taken the positives from that and learnt.
He will now contest the National 10km trials in November ahead of a training camp in Falls Creek in preparation for the World Championship in Berlin next year.
Curtis was 6th in the US Olympic trials over 500m and is the American Collegiate 5000m champion this year with a best time of 13.25. He is based in Australia for two months to train with Craig Mottram.
In an amazing upset 20 year old university student Lara Tamsett held her nerve to outrun Beijing Olympic representative Benita Johnson. Johnson is the Australian record holder for 2000m, 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m and marathon and a former winner of the 2002 Asics Bolt title and holds the course record (15:22).
Tamsett not only handled the pressure of racing her idol but took the brave move of surging in the final lap, Johnson was unable to respond and Tamsett crossed the line first taking an easy win in the end.
“Benita has such an amazing pace, I really had to watch her and make sure I surged in the final stretch, it was amazing running beside her, I was so paranoid she was going to come flying past,” said Tamsett.
“Normally in a race like this I would bolt at the halfway mark but this time I decided to leave it till the last lap, I knew I had the fuel in the tank so I was lucky because as you know it can disappear in a second,” she added.
Lisa Corrigan produced her best result in the race rounding out the podium ahead of Beijing Olympian Donna McFarlane making her debut at Noosa.
Results
Men
| 1. | Collis Birmingham | Wendouree | 13:57 |
| 2. | Jeremy Roff | Matraville | 13:59 |
| 3. | Bobby Curtis | Richmond | 14:01 |
| 4. | Martin Dent | Macquarie | 14:04 |
| 5. | Ben St Lawrence | Centennial Park | 14:05 |
Women
| 1. | Lara Tamsett | Sydney | 16:47 |
| 2. | Benita Johnson | | | 16:19 |
| 3. | Lisa Corrigan | Florey | 16:32 |
| 4. | Donna McFarlane | Mount Nelson | 16:38 |
| 5. | Tamara Carvolth | Esk | 16:55 |
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