Campbell dominance continues at NSW cross country

9 July 2023

Campbell dominance continues at NSW cross country

In very windy conditions yesterday at the 109th NSW Short Cross Country Championships yesterday in Wollongong, local athlete Luke Hince won on his home track, while the open women’s 7.5km race definitely didn’t disappointment with a thrilling race between Aynslee Van Graan and eventual winner Holly Campbell.

Holly’s win was the fourth by a Campbell in five years, following twin sister Paige’s wins in 2018 and 2020. Olympian Rose Davies won in 2019 and the 2021 race was cancelled due to COVID. Holly won last year in Bathurst, which was a test event for the World Cross Country Championships.

OPEN WOMEN 7.5KM

The race lived up to the anticipation with a see-sawing affair, which was largely missed by the spectators as most of the action occurred on the back on the course. Pre-race favourites, Holly Campbell and Aynslee Van Graan, who placed 1-2 last year, were joined by late entrant Katie St Lawrence. Also in the mix was 2016 race champion Kate Spencer.

At the end of the first lap, the 3.5km mark, the three favourites were clear of the field.

“Going through the start/finish is was Katie, Aynslee and myself together,” recalled Holly. “I think Katie dropped off another km after that. Then Aynslee and I were together around the back of the course.”

With a couple of kilometres to go, Holly made a move.

“I did one little surge on a downhill, but I couldn’t drop her, then Aynslee build up a little gap on me.”

Holly responded decisively.

“I caught up to her on a hill over the back and I wanted to close really well so I gave it a shot on another hill and managed to build up a little gap.”

Holly had build-up an unassailable 40 metre lead inside the last kilometres, going on to victory in 25:58 minutes, with Aynslee second in 26:14. In third Katie St Lawrence had not lost much ground to the leaders, finishing in 26:37. Kate Spencer clocked 27:35, outside her 27:01 winning time from 2016, but the changed 2023 course was tougher with an extra run over the final difficult hill.

Holly time was 18 second faster than the last occasion the 7.5km event was held on this course in 2018, won by her twin Paige in 26:16.

“I’m pretty happy with it,” is how Holly Campbell summed up her performance.

“I haven’t raced for six months now. I was pretty nervous, and the main goal was just to get a bit of confidence back and I wanted to have a strong run and see what I could do in the last few kilometres and I managed to close very well.”

Next stop for Holly Campbell is her debut in the green and gold at the World University Games in China next month.

“I’m excited for that and this was a good race hit out before that.”

After a terrific 2022, Holly then was in January 2023 named in the Australian team for the world cross country but withdrew with injury.

“Being health last year helped me get back this year when I was injured. It took me a while to get back but I was already in such a better place than I had been previously.”

OPEN MEN 7.5KM

Bouncing back from a not finishing at the State cross country three weeks ago, Luke Hince dominated the race on his home course, leading defending champion Drew Fryer through the first lap (3.5km) by 40 metres. Luke maintained the lead on lap two going on to win by 30 seconds in 23:58 minutes. It was Luke’s inaugural state title, joining him dad and mother as previous Athletics NSW winter event champions. Dad, Brendan, won the State half marathon in 1996, while mum Lorraine Davis the 1994 Novice XC title, the 1995 State XC title and was the 1994 Athletics NSW distance runner of the year.

With Luke Hince andDrew Fryer clear of the field a thrilling battle was developing for the final place on the podium. Through the first lap local Kembla Joggers club athlete, Alex Seal seemed to have it locked up but a six-person pack were in pursuit. The group included Ben Jagger, Kurt Fryer, Gosford’s James Starkey and Sydney Uni pair Lachlan Townsend and Ben Bishop. Three weeks earlier in Nowra at the longer 10km State Cross Country, these six plus Alex Seal finished close together. Over the next 2km Kurt Fryer, Lachlan Townsend and Ben Bishop broke away from their pack, and closed on Alex Seal.

By the finish Lachlan Townsend had secured the prized bronze medal in 24:11, just ahead of Sydney Uni teammate Ben Bishop (24:19). Alex Seal hung on for fifth in 24:24, with Kurt Fryer sixth in 24:29. James Starkey and Ben Jagger were also pretty close as they rounded out the top-8 in the exciting race.

In the teams battle, Sydney University with three in the top-4, were comfortable winners on 22 points, ahead of Kembla Joggers with 40 points, while Run Crew were third with 52 points.

Men open place getters:

1 Luke Hince (KEJ) 23:28

2 Drew Fryer SYU 23:58

3 Lachlan Townsend SYU 24:11

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Holly Campbell (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)