Time to lace up runners

Mates’ tribute to fallen champ

MORE than 3000 runners and walkers are set to take to Hobart’s roads for the 46th edition of the RACT City to Casino Fun Run tomorrow morning.

Participants in four categories will set off at 9am from three starting points – the Brooker Highway next to the Hobart Showground, Cornelian Bay and Salamanca Place.

Some Hobart roads will be closed for the event, each closing at 8.45am and the last set to reopen at 11am.

Race Director Hayden Nielsen said organisers have been keeping a close eye on the weather.

“The weather is supposed to be fine, about 15-17C and it will be dry so it shouldn’t affect runners,” Mr Nielsen said.

“Normally they have a northerly wind following them which helps their times, so I expect that will probably be the case.”

Mr Nielsen said last year’s elite women’s winner, Meriem Daoui, was a clear favourite to take out the category again tomorrow.

He said the men’s category could go anyone’s way.

“It will be a great men’s race, because the quality of participants is better than we’ve had for years,’’ Mr Nielsen.

“There is usually an outright favourite but this year any one of five Tasmanian men could win the 11km.”

Reigning champion Douglas Hamerlok, this year’s Run the Bridge runner-up, Dejen Gebreselassie, and 2016 City to Casino winner Dylan Evans are among the favourites.

Mr Nielsen said more primary school age children en- tered this year and that is “really good for the future of the event”.

“The 2.7km [course] has become a large part of the overall event and that’s very satisfying.”

Trophies and awards will be presented at Wrest Point at 10am. COMPETITORS in tomorrow’s City to Casino fun run are being encouraged to wear a black arm band in memory of marathon champion Colin Oliver.

Mr Oliver, 48, died on Tuesday after suffering injuries in a mountain bike crash at the Maydena Bike Park on March 1.

Mr Oliver’s fellow athletes and close friends Andrew Law, Dean Giblin, Paul Riseley and Sharen Willing will each run in his memory.

Mr Giblin, who trained and lived with Mr Oliver in his teens, said his absence would be felt during this year’s race.

“I’ll be very sad, it’s going to be very emotional,” he said.

“We will all be thinking of him as we run.

“Colin was such a tough runner, it was like he had a diesel motor and everybody else had petrol motors.”

Mr Riseley said Mr Oliver touched the hearts of many.

“He was a very serious runner but he was a jovial larrikin as well,” he said.

“We really hope his family are there to see what he meant to all of us.”

A minute’s silence and presentation on Mr Oliver’s sporting achievements will take place from 10am.