For the second consecutive year Bathurst's Shelley Hanrahan has been crowned fastest female in the Mudgee half-marathon, collecting her honour with another impressive run yesterday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Albeit a fraction slower than her 2013 tilt, Hanrahan was still delighted by the result.
“It's very exciting. I really enjoyed the run last year, it's a beautiful course and well organised event so I wanted to come back this year and try again. I am so pleased I did,” she said.
“I actually went a bit slower this time but that's alright. I felt every bit of the hills. I was on a bit of a high last year but this year I felt every single part of that course but still enjoyed it.
Yesterday Hanrahan completed the 21.1-kilometre course in one hour, 32 minutes and one second – about four minutes off her 2013 pace.
She finished 15th overall behind male winner Brent Harris (Rozelle) who clocked 1:17.28.
Mudgee females Shahna Smith (1:36.10) and Louise Mowlem (1:38.22) finished second and third respectively to Hanrahan.
For the overall winner it was his “first half-marathon in a while” and also acted as a lead in to something bigger.
“I'll do an ultra-marathon back home at New Zealand in September so this was a nice kick-off for that,” Harris said.
“This is a great place to come out and a run and a great excuse to run in the country.”
Harris ran the 5km fun run in Mudgee last year but thought he would “make more of the scenery today.”
It wasn't his best performance but a job done nonetheless.
“I am happy that I know I could be a lot quicker if I did the right work. It's nice to have a win though so I can't complain,” Harris said
“[I did] probably a good six weeks of preparation. Plenty of runs but probably missed out on a bit of gym work which is what I need to do to. The long run downhill caught me out a bit today because of the pounding but it's an awesome event. These guys put on an awesome show.”
First Mudgee runner home was second-placed Matt Webster in 1:18.52. The 40-year-old is new to town but loved his first local festival.
“It feels really good. Initially I was planning to do the marathon but injuries set me back a bit,” Webster said.
“I've only been in Mudgee since June so I'm new to Mudgee. When I saw the marathon was going to be here I thought I'd try that but as I said injuries held me back.
“I was in third for the first half of the race and then I caught second place at about the 12-kilometre mark near Tinja Lane and pushed on from there.”
