Shelley makes it number 5 at the Gold Coast 10

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Michael Shelley won his fifth Southern Cross University 10km Run at the Gold Coast Airport Marathon today, but his own race record eluded him by the most teasing of margins.

 

Shelley, 26, from Oxenford, clocked 28:55, just two seconds outside of the 28:53 mark he set last year.

 

Victoria’s Matthew Bayley set a personal best of 30:20 in taking second while NSW’s Scott Westcott took third in 30:34 in his first race back from injury.

 

Tasmania’s Melanie Daniels was the first woman across the line in 35:06 in front of Alexandra Watson from Tweed Heads, NSW (35:31), and Victoria’s Karen Barlow (35:47).

 

5998 runners faced the Southern Cross University 10km Run starter on a cool and clear Gold Coast morning.

 

Despite missing out on the record, Shelley said he was pleased with his effort in an event he’s made his own.

 

“The wind was the main reason I didn’t get it [the race record],” Shelley said.

 

“I went out hard and coming past the Grand Hotel in Labrador (3km to go), the wind was up and that’s where I slowed.

 

“This is my first race since the London Marathon two and a half months ago, so I didn’t know what shape I’d be in.

 

“The downtime was good but I’ve come back feeling really fresh. Any time under 29 minutes though is great and I’ve got to be happy with that,” he said.

Victoria’s Bayley said he was happy with his run.

 

“I came in fourth last year, so it was good to get a place this year.

 

“The seventh to ninth kilometres were the toughest because I was running alone, but once I hit the last kilometre the crowd was there and it was a great atmosphere.

 

“I’m pleased. I’m only 22. I’ve got a long way to go,” he said.

 

Westcott, 35, who had an enforced 14 month layoff through stress fractures to his feet, was similarly pleased with his comeback effort.

 

“It takes a long time to get back into competitive shape, but that was pretty good out there for me today,” the 2006 Commonwealth Games marathoner said.

 

Daniels surprised herself with her run.

 

“I didn’t expect to win the race,” she said.

 

“I’m very happy. It’s one of the best courses, there was a lot of encouragement along the way and I really enjoyed it,” she said.

 

Watson ran with one eye on the clock.

 

“It was a bit dodgy when I first went out but coming back I motored it. I was really paranoid [about her time].

 

Barlow started well but failed to factor in the headwind on the way home.

 

“I went out conservatively and tried to reel them in one by one, but I struggled the last few kilometres running into the wind.

 

“But I’m thrilled to come in third in a race of this calibre,” she said.

 

Earlier in the day Queensland’s Sam Carter took out the wheelchair half marathon in an upset over the more fancied defending champion Richard Nicholson from the ACT

 

Carter covered the course in 52:30 with Nicholson 19 seconds in arrears.

 

“It feels absolutely amazing to be the first winner [of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon weekend],” he said.

 

“I love the course and I found the cool temperature helped because I warmed up out there pretty quickly,” he said.

 

Nicholson, who covered the course two minutes slower than his winning time last year was disappointed with his race.

 

“I dropped [pace] in the last three kilometres as I wasn’t paying attention,” he said.

 

1141 children took part in today’s Junior Dashes over 4km and 2km.

 

14-year-old Calvin Quirk from Hope Island on the Gold Coast took out the 4km Junior Dash but was still weighing up whether to run competitively more often or ease into the sport.

 

“It’s the first race I’ve done seriously. I’m just enjoying my running at the moment,” he said.

 

Calvin’s sister and Queensland representative Sabrina came eighth in the girl’s event.

 

The top 10 boys in the 4km event were Queenslanders while there was an international win in the girl’s event.

 

Nozomi Tanaka, 11, from Japan was hoping her impressive 4km victory is a portent to a family sequel tomorrow.

 

Her mother Chihiro Tanaka, 40, will line up as one of the hot favourites in Sunday’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon.

 

TSS student Kobi Rutherford and Brisbane’s Katrina Robinson had celebration in mind after their 2km Dash victories.

 

“I’ve been training since I was six and I thought I might win,” Kobi said.

 

“I’m going to celebrate at my brother’s birthday party today,” he said.

 

Katrina said she’s keen on a fast food fix.

 

“I started running at six as well and I’m going to celebrate my win today by going to Hungry Jacks with mum and dad,” she said.

 

A record 24,726 runners and walkers will participate in the various Gold Coast Airport Marathon events this weekend.

 

Events Queensland Gold Coast General Manager Cameron Hart said today’s program provided a great start the record-breaking event for 2011.

 

“Blue skies, sunshine and thousands of excited runners and spectators was a fantastic start to the Gold Coast Airport Marathon for 2011.

 

“To see almost 6,000 line up in the Southern Cross University 10km Run, a close finish in the wheelchair half marathon and over 1,000 excited kids in the Junior Dash races was fantastic.

 

“The Gold Coast Airport Marathon continues to get bigger and better every year and we look forward to another beautiful Gold Coast day tomorrow to cap off this record-breaking event.

 

“It was pleasing to see today the increasing number of Gold Coasters taking part in a home-grown event which is now rated as a world-class race.

 

“The ability of Gold Coast joggers to line up side-by-side with Olympians is a rare opportunity only the Gold Coast Airport Marathon can offer,” he said.

 

Tomorrow’s program features the 42.195km Gold Coast Airport Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, Queensland Health 5km Challenge and the Junior Dashes over 4km and 2km.

 

 

 

GOLD COAST, July 2 AAP – Results from the Southern Cross University 10km Run today:

 

Men: Michael Shelley (Qld) 28m55s 1, Matthew Bayley (Vic) 2, Scott Westcott (NSW) 3, Jackson Elliott (Qld) 4, Chris Rawling (Qld) 5, Chris Hartley (Qld) 6, Hugh Williams (NSW) 7, John Polson (Qld) 8, Jay Twist (Qld) 9, Dane Verwey (Vic) 10.

Women: Melanie Daniels (Tas) 35m6s 1, Alexandra Watson (NSW) 2, Karen Barlow (Vic) 3, Courtney Gilfillan (NSW) 4, Karrina Fyfe (Vic) 5, Anita Keem (NSW) 6, Sarah Crowley (Qld) 7, Laura Rose Donegan (Vic) 8, Lauren Mitchell (NSW) 9, Briarna Mackie (Qld) 10.

GOLD COAST, July 2 AAP – Results from the Wheelchair Half Marathon today:

 

Sam Carter (Qld) 52m30s 1, Richard Nicholson (ACT) 2, Rheed McCracken (Qld) 3, Bill Chaffey (Qld) 4, Jason McGregor (Qld) 5, Matthew Brumby (Tas) 6, Rosemary Little (NSW) 7, Paul Ashley (NSW) 8, Alan Ashford (Qld) 9, Yuhei Yasuno (Japan) 10.

 

Ends