The fantastic supportive atmosphere of spectators at the World Masters Games Athletics 8km cross country event proved motivating for many masters athletes in both the men’s event and the women’s event. Crowds cheered on finishers from all nations and clapped masters athletes through the bends of the 3 lap course.
Australia’s Richard Roberts (40-44 years) convincingly won the event in 25 minutes 12 seconds (25:12). Russian Federation’s Alexey Korobov was second in 25:36, earning him a second medal from the World Masters Games in Sydney. Although Alexey also came second overall in the 10km run, he won gold for his age group in the 10km.
Peter Brett (45-49 years) of Australia took out third place overall but first place in his division in a time of 26:31. Peter represented Australia at the World Cross Country championships 7 times between the years 1986-1992 and came 6th in the Commonwealth Games 10,000m in 1990.
Australian ladies Angela Williams (35-39), Kathy Southgate (50-54) and Christine Suffolk (35-39, 31:57) were the first women home in extraordinarily dry conditions.
Middle Aged Masters Athletes Fastest in the Field
It’s interesting to note that speed has no correlation to age as category winners for both men and women completed the 8km course in the following time order:
Richard Roberts (40-44) Australia 25:12
Peter Brett (45-49) Australia 26:23
Phillip Bowes (50-54) Australia 27:15
Matt Webster (35-39) Australia 27:42
James Palethorpe (30-34) Australia 27:52
Charles Chambers (55-59) Australia 28:56
Angela Williams (W35-39) Australia 29:55
Vincent Basista (65-69) Australia 30:15
Frank Scorzelli (60-64) Australia 30:51
Kathy Southgate (W50-54) Australia 31:31
Rosemary Roediger (W55-59) Australia 32:02
Heather Kappmeier (W40-44) South Africa 32:21
Sally Musgrove (W45-49) Australia 33:41
Sue Archer (W60-64) Australia 36:04
Kelly Faulks (W30-34) Australia 36:10
John Spinney (70-74) Australia 37:43
Roy Stanway (75-79) Australia 40:30
Lesley Bowcott (W65-69) United Kingdom 43:02
Bob Lewis (80-84) Australia 47:12
Elfriede Willerts (W70-74) Germany 48:53
Joan Mallory (W75-79) Australia 1:02:14
Australian’s Reap Many 8km Cross Country Gold Medals at World Masters Games
Although the Australians snavelled a large percentage of the age category medals, international competitors from Czech Republic, Russian Federation, Canada, Austria, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, Argentina, United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Singapore, New Caledonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Spain, Islamic Republic, Poland and Slovenia were all well represented and cheered on by a great crowd of spectators in the best spirit of sport.
International Cross Country Masters Athletes Take Home Silver and Bronze
Russian Federation picked up silver medals with Alexy Korobov (M40-44), Leonid Isaev (M50-54, 27:51) and Vladimir Malykh (M65-69, 31:08) and bronze medals with Rasimya Kiyamova (W50-54, 33:47) and Ilyusa Kjusnetdinova (W45-49, 35:27).
Gilles Brouillaud’s (M30-34) time of 29:05 earned him a bronze for New Caledonia.
Miroslav Kravcik (M55-59) found silver for Czech Republic with his 29:36 run and fellow team member Miloslava Keprtova (W60-64) received a bronze with her finish time of 39:40. Karel Matzner (M80-84) also of Czech Republic was second to Australia’s Bob Lewis in a time of 51:38.
Two of three of Kazakhstan’s runners will take home cross country medals. Marat Baltabayev (M60-64) crossed the line in 31:50 to win silver and Vladimir Kovalchuk (M70-74) ran a very respectable 38:41 for bronze.
Canadians had the second largest team at the World Masters Games cross country and will take home 2 medals with Bonnie Skov (W60-64, 38:55, silver) and Connie Posen (W30-34, 40:50, bronze).
United Kingdom, South Africa, Netherlands, New Zealand and United States took home just 1 medal each. Lesley Bowcott of United Kingdom (W65-69, 43:02) takes home a gold medal while South African, Martin Coetzee (M75-79, 41:00) Dutch Dorothee Hermes (W30-34, 36:43), New Zealand’s Pauline Hewitt (W70-74, 49:58) and Robin Vesey (W55-59, 35:08) of the United States will all take silver medals home.
Leo Hohmann (M75-79) of Germany was just 1 second behind Martin Coetzee and will take home a bronze to compliment Elfriede Willert’s gold.
More Fast Times by Masters Athletes
Of the 349 finishers in the World Masters Games 8km Cross Country event at Paramatta Park, 215 masters athletes aged between 30 and 74 completed the course at a speed of 12 kilometers per hour or faster which equates to 5 minutes per kilometre or faster. 64 competitors aged between 30 and 69 ran at speeds of 15 kilometers per hour or faster (4 minutes per kilometre).
For those unfamiliar with running times, anything under 5 minutes per kilometre is considered reasonably fit for local competition while times under 4 minutes per kilometre are competitive at state level.
The results in both the World Masters Games 10km and the 8km cross country events demonstrate the abilities of men and women aged up to 70 are quite capable of achieving a level of fitness to be able to perform competitively at state level. It is inspiring to think that many of these masters athletes may have taken up running in only recent years. Find out how to enjoy running, today. See also how masters athletes still compete at elite levels.
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