LISA RUNS A RECORD

A NEW course record has been written in Hobart’s Run the Bridge history books, after Olympic Games runner Lisa Weightman smashed her 2012 record time by a whopping 30 seconds.

Weightman crossed the line in the 10km event in 32min 45 sec to eclipse the 33:15 record she set six years ago.

The 39-year-old, who ran marathons for Australia in the past three Olympics, said yesterday’s win provided her with the ultimate confidence heading into the Commonwealth Games in April.

“It’s fantastic to get a bit of confidence ahead of the Gold Coast Games,” Weightman said.

“I ran here [ Run the Bridge] in 2012, and then went on to run well at the Olympics in London, so if history can repeat itself then that would be great.”

Despite a record-breaking run yesterday, Weightman said she experienced a tough few weeks leading up to the race.

“I was struck down with gastro a couple of weeks ago, which kept me in bed for three days,” said Weightman.

“But I’ve put in a lot of hard work and hopefully I’m now right to go for the Commonwealth Games in a couple months’ time.

“I’m in good PB shape now so it all looks good for Gold Coast.”

Joining Weightman on the team for the Commonwealth Games will be fellow marathon runner Liam Adams, who, crossed first in yesterday’s Run the Bridge in the men’s category with a time of 29:15.

Weightman’s winning time yesterday gives the Commonwealth Games bronzemedallistedallist outrightht victory over Adamsdams in the event’s famed Battle-of-the-Sexes competition, where the elite women runners are given a 4min 18 sec headstart over the main field.

Run the Bridge organiser Richard Welsh said it was great to have Australian-represented athletes on show at the country’s richest 10km road race.

“The Run the Bridge has continuously attracted a really strong field,” Welsh said.

“It was fantastic to have half of the Australian Commonwealth Games marathon team here for the evenevent as well as elite athathletes from seven differentferent countricountries. “We were reallyr thrilled with how it wenwent.” Welsh said the annual race, which is now in its ninth year, had seen a steady growth in popularity. “Sunday’s race saw the most number of participants that we’ve ever had run the bridge, with close to 3,700 entrants — which is amazing,” he said. “We’re really pleased and thankful for Tasmanians, who are showing that as a community, we’re trying to be fitter.’’ In the 5km event, Grant Page was the fastest over the line with a time of 15:19.