Campbells continue domination of NSW 3000m Championship

30 October 2022

Campbells continue domination of NSW 3000m Championship

Conducted on the newly laid surface at ES Marks Field, the NSW 3000m Championships were contrasting races in 2022. Holly Campbell claimed the third family win in five championships with a run away victory, while Adam Pyke won the men’s title in a race where six athletes were still in contention at the bell.

The day and evening witnessed a great festival of running, with seven women’s and 12 men’s 3000m races, in addition to two community 3000m races and four half-mile events.

Randwick Botany’s Holly Campbell lived up to her pre-race favouritism with a dominant display of distance running to claim the 40th NSW women’s 3000m championship in style.

After 1km a pack of five remained with defending champion Aynslee Van Graan (Run Crew) piloting the field. After running mostly 74 second laps, the pace drifted to 76 seconds around the 2km mark. It was enough for Holly Campbell to enact her plan.

“I could feel the pace was slowing and my plan was to go at three laps and if I could make a really strong move there, and get a gap, I’d be strong enough to finish it,” said Holly who followed her plan perfectly.

“I just wish I felt a little better on the last lap, but I think the wind on the back straight was energy sapping.”

After a couple of 72 second laps, Holly did close with 74s, but was running away from the field, eventually hitting the finish line 10 second ahead with a time of 9:14.67 minutes. Aynslee Van Graan claimed yet another podium finish, placing second with 9:24.37. The battle for the bronze medal was terrific between two Newcastle athletes. Jessica Noble (NEW) built up a two second lead over Ireland’s Niamh Allen (RCR) with two laps to go, but Naimh sprinted home in 72 seconds, one of the night’s fastest times, to snatch the bronze in a massive PB of 9:26.04. Jessica, who her made her Australian debut this year on an Australian U23/development tour of the UK, was fourth in 9:27.85. On debut at the distance, 15-year-old Fleur Cooper (UTN) clocked the race’s fastest lap, closing in 70.58 to place seventh in 9:41.25.

Holly Campbell’s twin sister Paige was there to see her win the third title for the family in five years, following her win in 2018 and 2019.

After the race, Holly revealed she had been no certain starter.

“I haven’t raced for a long time and I had a little niggle in my ankle two months ago. I came back to running a month ago and I wasn’t feeling that good and thought I might not do tonight’s race. Then things started to come good. The race was in Sydney, and at home, so thought I may as well do it.”

After running PBs last summer over 1500m and 3000m and being competitive in the National 1500m final, under coach Jeremy Roff, Holly is certainly on the move.

“I think I could have run really fast, but I really just wanted to win tonight. I just tried to run the best race I could to get the win and it worked out.

“I’ve had a great year and would definitely say it is my best athletics year to date.”

Randwick Botany continues to be the most successful club in the women’s race, with holly claimed their 10th title.

The 19th NSW men’s 3000m Championship was a thrilling kick down over the final lap after six athletes were within one second at the bell.

After 600m into the race, less than two seconds separated the entire field of 20. By mid-race, after the pace had progressed from 66 to 65 second laps, race favourite, Canberra’s Cameron Myers had moved into the lead. Last summer, aged 15, Myers had clocked stunning times of 1:50.82 and 3:46.50. Now 16, Myers was leading a well credentialled NSW senior 3000m championship with still six athletes in contention at the bell. But over the last lap, Myers moved away from the fileld with a 58.09 last lap to take the win in 8:10.05. The NSW title went to Bankstown’s Adam Pyke in 8:12.58. It was Bankstown’s third win in six years, following Jordan Gusman in 2017 and Jye Edwards in 2019. Adam Pyke, a 26-year-old athlete based in Melbourne, was two seconds outside his PB set in 2016. He also possesses an impressive 1500m PB of 3:40.02 dating back to 2017.

Adam was pleased with his start to the season.

“Championship racing can be slow and tactical, so I wasn’t expecting a fast time,” said Adam. “I’ve opened up the season reasonably well, it takes me 4 or 5 races before I’m ready to get going properly. It is probably the strongest I’ve opened-up for the season in a very long time. Overall pretty happy with it.”

Second NSW athlete was a surprise with Sydney Uni’s Connor Whiteley, third in last year’s B race, clocking a nine seconds PB time of 8:14.15. The 2018 State 3000m champion, Joe Burgess (SYU) was third in 8:15.74, with reigning NSW 10,000m champion Drew Fryer (RBH) in fourth. An unfortunately mid-race fall hampered Stefan Music’s hopes.

Thanks to NSW’s brilliant photo finish team, splits for every athlete was recorded – see the button on the live results.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Holly Campbell (courtesy of David Tarbotton)