LIFESTYLE
KNOWN as the ‘Friendly Games’, there were also a fair few winners in the past week of competitions at the Masters Games.
Emma Craft successfully defended her Games mile champion title with the fastest time for a woman in the Games’ 32-year history.
Spectators lined Todd St as Kraft ran away from Nicole Perry in the final 400m of an epic battle that had the runners virtually shoulder to shoulder at the final turn.
Kraft’s time of 5:12.4 shaved 2.05 seconds off the mile record set by Andrea Foote in 2012. It was also a personal best. She finished three seconds in front of Perry with third-placed Elizabeth Atkins 41 seconds back.
The men’s mile was equally close with Darwin’s Darren Peacock sprinting ahead of 2016 champion Brad White in the run to the finish line.
Peacock, 42, clocked 4:58.8 to finish six seconds ahead of White.
The new mile course, twice out and back about 400m from in front of the Civic Centre, proved a winner with runners and spectators.
But the biggest winner of all has been Alice Springs.
Mayor Damien Ryan, who is on the Games Advisory Committee and participated in the road walks and 10-pin bowling, was very happy with how the Games were run.
“I have received a lot of compliments from returning and first-time participants about the Games,” he said.
“One of the new sports this year, boxing, was a huge success and had good crowds every night.
“The pool has been just amazing with the number of records that were set.
“The atmosphere at the netball and basketball stadiums has been fantastic.
“It all shows people are enjoying competition more and these are a serious Games and not just a party.
“These Games are a worthwhile experience for local people and visitors alike.
“It was good to see the lights still on down the mall. They have been a talking point with the visitors.
“In all these have been a wonderful Games.”
NT Chamber of Commerce Alice Springs executive officer Alana Richardson said the Masters Games were very valuable to the local economy.
She said participants and their friends and family travelled from across Australia and