Paths cross at fun run finish line Two champs share honour
BOTH had their own journeys, but through a finish line mishap and sheer determination, their paths crossed to create the most exciting of finishes at the Townsville Running Festival.
Competing in the 5km Junior Fun Run on Sunday, rising athletic stars Lauren Nugent and Jayne Kerby dead heated in a time of 18:34 following a 30m sprint after the former pulled up early thinking she had crossed the finish to claim the title.
“I thought the golden arches was the finish line so I stopped. (Jayne) was coming second ran past me, so I realised I had to keep going, so it was a sprint finish,” Nugent said.
“It was really hard, my legs were so tired, but people were yelling to keep going, so I realised I needed to get the finish.”
Capturing the moment, Kerby took her opportunity and was happy to share the moment with Nugent.
“We were shoulder to shoulder when she stopped, so I stopped thinking that was the finish line,” she said.
“Then after a breather it was a quick dash to the finish line. It’s pretty good feeling because she’s always been a good competitor for me and an athlete I tried to strive to be near (in the race) or beat.”
While Nugent and Kirby are 16 and 15 respectively, both have had an impressive junior career in athletics.
Both have represented North Queensland and beyond in cross country and athletics, with Nugent also a national-level junior in surf life saving.
Recovering from serious injury, Nugent’s heroics in the Junior Fun Run came following months of building up following a broken leg after she jumped out of a boat and hit the sand last November.
Told by doctors she would never run competitively again, a link to North Queensland Cowboy Josh Mcguire led the young star to a surgeon in Brisbane, which got her back on track.
“There were a few tears when I was told there was a chance I could never run again, but I went down to Brisbane and was able to see a surgeon and got four pins,” Nugent said.
“Getting back into it I was favouring one leg, but through going to physio, I was able to sort that out.
“It took five months to try and run properly again. I was training hard and it gave me a lot of confidence running on the weekend.
“It’s really hard not getting the times I used to when I was younger, but they tell me it takes time.”
Ever on the rise, Kerby has a big future ahead and in a continuation of improvement, set a personal best on Sunday.
Finishing second to Nugent in 2018, Kerby was determined to reverse the result and so she went out with a plan.
“I’ve been running since I was about 12. I’ve represented North Queensland in cross country and athletics and recently represented Regional Australia at the Oceania Athletics Championships,” she said.
“My coach likes getting me involved in these events and my race plan was to get a PB. So I knew if I stuck behind her it would probably most likely be accomplished.
“I didn’t go out too hard in the first two (kilometres), I just sat behind her then we kicked and fought it out for the last kilometre.
“I beat my PB by a minute and five seconds which was a pretty big shock for me.
“I was surprised, it all just came down to how I felt on the day.
“I just felt good mentally and physically and it all fell into place for me, which I’m really happy about.”