WINNER RUNNING DOWN DREAM
OLYMPIC aspirant Abere Kassw Belay took the honours in Sunday’s Geelong half-marathon event as he chases his dream of qualifying for the Tokyo Games.
And women’s winner Karinna Fyfe reclaimed the race record in a time of 1:13:54, nearly 10 minutes ahead of runner-up Hayley Newman.
Ethiopian-born Kassw Belay is hoping to qualify for the Refugee
Olympic Team. He claimed the 21.1km run in a time of 1:06:28.
Geelong Cross Country Club vice-president Kevin McNulty said it was pleased with the turn out, with more than 600 participants in the half marathon and 7km run. “Considering the weather and considering how interrupted people’s running regimes have been — and also the lack of events that have been held — we were a little nervous if people would still want to come along,” he said.
The event is the club’s annual fundraiser. It also generates funds for the Geelong Hospital’s Andrew Love Cancer Centre.
McNulty said donations were still being counted but it hoped to contribute $10,000 towards the centre.
The Geelong Cross Country Club will also hold its half-centenary celebrations later this year.
For more information, contact Kevin McNulty on 0409 476 416.