Moneghetti to start favourite as XCR’11 heads to Ballarat

Close to 700 runners will descend on Ballarat this Saturday afternoon, as Athletics Victoria’s XCR’11 cross country and road running series heads to one of Victoria’s running heartlands  for the fourth round of competition. Home to Australian marathon legend Steve Moneghetti (Ballarat YCW Harriers), as well as Beijing Olympians Collis Birmingham(Eureka AC) and Victoria Mitchell (Eureka AC), the regional city will host racing on the Lake Wendouree road circuit, with events for junior, open and Masters athletes.

In the feature open race over 15km, Moneghetti will start favourite in the men’s field, with reigning state cross country champion Steve Kelly (Box Hill AC) leading a host of challengers for the road race victory. Moneghetti, 48, placed runner-up in last year’s event to five-time world cross country representative Liam Adams (Athletics Essendon), who will not defend his title this year, opting to race the Launceston 10 in Tasmania on Sunday.

Meanwhile, nine-time world cross country representative and 2006 Commonwealth Games 10,000m finalist Anna Thompson (Glenhuntly AC) will headline the women’s field, with state 10km road race bronze medallist Brooke Condon (Box Hill AC) amongst the major threats to Thompson’s line honours bid. Last year’s women’s race winner Kathryn Ewels(Traralgon Harriers AC) will not contests this year’s event.

Ballarat locals Jack Davies, 16, (Eureka AC, Ballarat High School student) and Courtney Scott, 15, (Western Athletics, Ballarat & Clarendon College student) will be amongst the favourites for line honours in the junior road race over five kilometres.

Racing is scheduled to commence at 1:00pm, with the feature 15km road race to start at 1:30pm.

Official results and a media release will be circulated following the completion of the event. High resolution images will be available upon request.

Event Details:

Event: XCR’11 Round Four – Lake Wendouree Road Race

When: Saturday 18^th June, 2011 (Junior 5km Race Start: 1pm; Open 15km Race Start, 1:30pm).

Where: Wendouree Parade, Lake Wendouree, Ballarat (Start finish area located in the Ballarat  Botanical Gardens, near Windmill Drive).

For further event information, please visit CLICK HERE.

To view a course map, please CLICK HERE.