For those using the Eastern Freeway to get away early on the first day of the long weekend, the stampede of more than a hundred APSOC singlets running across the Yarra Bend overpass on the drizzly winter’s morning may have been a somewhat dissonant sight. Whilst the outbound motorists of the Eastern Freeway were dreaming of saunas in Falls Creek, bonfires in Gippsland or warmly lit log cabins in Phillip Island, the SKAAC contingent were focused only on completing the two four-kilometre laps that lay ahead.
The McPhail 8k saw a good representation of SKAAC runners at the front end of the pack with Xavier Chapman comfortably taking out second place overall, averaging a time of 3:16.5 minutes per kilometre. Chris Hibbert didn’t trail this effort by far, coming in less than 90 seconds later to take seventh place. The handicappers had, unfortunately, seen this coming and dealt Chris the second shortest handicap of the field to place him fifty-eighth in that regard.
The highlight SKAAC performance of the day, however, would have to go to the chase that lasted the full 8 kilometres between Dino Imbriano and Jeremy Weeks. With Weeks pulling out to an early lead and neither runner willing to give an inch, it was a testament to Dino’s unwavering stamina that allowed him to overtake in the final section of the race.
A superb performance was put on by the SKAAC junior side with the Joel Imbriano, Gabrielle Kopke and the Cornwells (John, Gabe and Charlie) all showing outstanding commitment and determination. The entire SKAAC team seemed to relish the “perfect weather for running”, all inclusive of the cold breeze, the occasional spray of rain and the slippery mud that characterised the Yarra Bend track.
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