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The Retirement Strategies 200m for over45s at Tea Tree Gully was very serious.
In the first heat your reporter Brett Stokes recovered from a poor bend to win just ahead of Peter Biggs and Sue Turner and Ali Saliu, time a bit over 23 secs.
Last year's winner Chris Dimitrak in the yellow did not make it into the straight, falling half way round the curve with an injury, reportedly a torn hamstring.
Just after Chris went down next to me, I lost momentum in a dip and then again a few steps later, so I lost a lot of time - but I ran the straight well.
The second heat was another tight contest with Eugene DeVizio and Mick Abbott getting through in under 22.5 secs, with Lyn Peake and John Turner just missing out.
Then the third heat was won by the legend Brian Hart, ahead of Ross Hill-Brown, in around 22.5 secs.
As the sunlight faded and the evening grew colder, we were getting ready to line up for the start of the final. I was pre-occupied with trying to keep my back from seizing up, lots of warm clothes and leg lifts while bending my lower back over the foam roller and dig dig dig with the magic massage stick.
As we took off I realised there was no Brian Hart in the field - what happened to the legend? Was he kidnapped by aliens? I do not know, but I hope Brian is okay.
And I did the bend perfectly, like back two years ago when I won this race.
I used the same trick as I did in the 2011 final, managing to keep my legs a bit bent (and my hips low) out of the blocks and all the way around the bend - the roller coaster near the goal posts did not bother me and I entered the straight feeling fantastic, flying past Mick Abbott and ready to run Eugene down.
And I nearly caught Eugene - and Ross Hill-Brown did catch me.
Eugene did a specky tumble just after the finish line but bounced back to his feet smiling.
The winning time was less than 22.1 secs.
Well done to young Eugene.
And thanks everyone for an exciting time.
In the first heat your reporter Brett Stokes recovered from a poor bend to win just ahead of Peter Biggs and Sue Turner and Ali Saliu, time a bit over 23 secs.
Last year's winner Chris Dimitrak in the yellow did not make it into the straight, falling half way round the curve with an injury, reportedly a torn hamstring.
Just after Chris went down next to me, I lost momentum in a dip and then again a few steps later, so I lost a lot of time - but I ran the straight well.
The second heat was another tight contest with Eugene DeVizio and Mick Abbott getting through in under 22.5 secs, with Lyn Peake and John Turner just missing out.
Then the third heat was won by the legend Brian Hart, ahead of Ross Hill-Brown, in around 22.5 secs.
As the sunlight faded and the evening grew colder, we were getting ready to line up for the start of the final. I was pre-occupied with trying to keep my back from seizing up, lots of warm clothes and leg lifts while bending my lower back over the foam roller and dig dig dig with the magic massage stick.
As we took off I realised there was no Brian Hart in the field - what happened to the legend? Was he kidnapped by aliens? I do not know, but I hope Brian is okay.
And I did the bend perfectly, like back two years ago when I won this race.
I used the same trick as I did in the 2011 final, managing to keep my legs a bit bent (and my hips low) out of the blocks and all the way around the bend - the roller coaster near the goal posts did not bother me and I entered the straight feeling fantastic, flying past Mick Abbott and ready to run Eugene down.
And I nearly caught Eugene - and Ross Hill-Brown did catch me.
Eugene did a specky tumble just after the finish line but bounced back to his feet smiling.
The winning time was less than 22.1 secs.
Well done to young Eugene.
And thanks everyone for an exciting time.
Last edited by Stokesy on Sat Jan 12, 2013 11:57 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : spelling)