Adams and Trengove take 2011 City2Surf honours

In one of the most exciting finishes ever in The Sun-Herald City2Surf, presented by Westpac, Liam Adams of Moonee Ponds, Victoria has beaten one of the race favourites, Michael Shelley of Oxenford, Queensland, by just two seconds.

Adams crossed the finish line at Bondi Beach with a time of 41 minutes and 11 seconds, with Shelley recording 41 minutes and 13 seconds.

“This is my first time running the City2Surf and the biggest race I have ever run. My aim was to tuck into the back and hold onto the leaders. I’m really happy,” Adams said.

Jess Trengove from Burnside in South Australia was the women’s champion with a time of 47 minutes and 29 seconds, edging out Emily Brichacek from Bruce, ACT who recorded a time of 48 minutes and five seconds.

“I’m really really happy. It’s a personal best for me. The last few kilometres were really tough and heartbreak hill was deceiving – I thought it was going to be an easy downhill from there. I’ve got plans for a couple of marathons over the next few months and then back for City2surf next year.”

Elite wheelchair athlete Kurt Fearnley took out the top spot among the elite wheelchair athletes with a time of 38 minutes and three seconds.

Taking on the City2Surf course for the first time, the Paralympics champion said: “It’s a challenging and technical course, but I love it! The rain makes it hard, especially on the hills. I can’t wait to come back next year on a dry course and see how fast i can really go.” 

Women’s champion of the elite wheelchair start was Christie Dawes from Merewether, New South Wales who completed the course in a time of 47 minutes and 35 seconds.

The male 2011 runner-up for the elite wheelchair group was Nathan Arkley from St Agnes in South Australia with a time of 40 minutes and 57 seconds. Madison de Rozario from Success in Western Australia took second place in the women’s wheelchair group with a time of one hour, one minute and 57 seconds. 

This year a record 85,000 entered the race, cementing the City2Surf’s place as the world’s largest run. Running legend and 1977 and 1981 winner of the City2Surf, Rob de Castella fired the starter’s gun for the 41st race and runners left the city along a scenic 14 km course to Bondi Beach.

The 2011 charity initiative raised more than $3.2 million, with the City2Surf,making it well on its way to becoming Australia’s largest annual fundraising event.

The City2Surf record holders include Steve Moneghetti (40:03mins) set in 1991 and Susie Power (45:08mins) set in 2001.

Tags: liam Adams, and jess Trengove, 2011 City2Surf, honours
Read more | Comments (0) | Updated on August 13, 2011, 9:39pm