PINT-SIZED VICTOR DEMOLISHES PB
A FIVE-YEAR-OLD has emerged as the latest Gold Coast running sensation, winning his age group in the Rotary Kokoda Beach Classic and in the process cutting his “PB” in half.
Young Louie Mathieson was ecstatic after surging across the finish line at the Broadbeach SLSC holding dad Gavin’s hand.
The pair finished third and fourth respectively in the 5km Community Memorial Walk.
“The hardest part was when the water nearly got into my running shoes,” Louie said. “But my dad helped me and I won.”
The Pacific Pines athlete competed in the Kokoda run, jog or walk for the third time yesterday, slashing his personal best from 90 minutes to just over 50.
Almost 400 runners competed in the annual event, sponsored this year by the Southport RSL.
It has become a “must do” for both committed runners and family joggers to commemorate Australia’s “ragged bloody heroes” of the Kokoda Track in WWII.
The winner of the big race of the day, the Extreme Half Marathon, was Jodie Cumner, the first woman to win the gruelling run.