NSW 10,000m Championships: titles for Josh Phillips and Leyla Liakatos

Published Sun 22 Oct 2023

22 October 2023

NSW 10,000m Championships: titles for Josh Phillips and Leyla Liakatos

Last night in windy conditions at The Crest track at Bankstown, Josh Phillips and Leyla Liakatos won their first senior state titles – the NSW 10,000m Championship.

MEN 10,000m

Just back in Australian from studying at the prestigious distance running college Villanova, former outstanding NSW junior Josh Phillips, ran a strong second half to take the men’s NSW 10,000m title. He was challenged until 7km by three-time winner of the event, Tom Do Canto.

During the week, the two had planned to work together.

“I messaged Josh a few days before the race to see if he was running, hoping he was running and someone to run with,” said Do Canto.

“He wanted to do a conservative first 5k around 15 minutes and kick down from there. I said I wasn’t sure I could kick down much from 15 (minutes), but let’s work together for the first 5 and that is what happened. I hope I helped him as he definitely me.”

Josh concurred.

“We decided to take three laps each and I said I wanted to go through in about 15 minutes and then push the back half. I think we came through in the 14:50s and then I ran 14:20-25 on the back end,” recalled Phillips.

They were both on point, reaching the 5000m mark in 14:55. They then remained together for another 2km, reaching the 7km mark in 18:57, before Phillips broke away, taking the title in 29:23.98 from Do Canto with 29:44.47.

“I was happy with it overall, although I wanted to be closer to 14 minutes on the back half,” said Phillips. “I underestimated how hard that would be alone on a night like and in the wind. But overall pretty happy, and I think I had another gear on the last lap if somebody was there to test me.”

Do Canto did find it tough in the later stages.

“It was windy and when Josh took off it was a slog by myself out there.”

The race was ideal for both athletes who are building towards major races in December. For Phillips it is on the track.

“Zatopek is the big one especially going into an Olympic year and it is the world cross trails basically, is what they have said, so everything is geared towards that,” he said.

Tom Do Canto is building towards an overseas marathon where 10 plus Aussies are expected to be on the start line.

“I felt okay considering I’m training towards the Valencia Marathon in December which is six weeks away so didn’t really taper for it today, but was hoping to run a little faster and feel a little better. I can’t complain too much as I ran the Melbourne Half Marathon last weekend and probably not …. definitely not, recovered,” said Do Canto.

Tom Do Canto trains with the strong Run Crew squad around Sydney, while Josh Phillips is training solo after his return from Villanova College a few months ago.

“I feel college was a great experience and I’m staying with my coaches from Villanova, Marcus (O’Sullivan) and Matt and not with a group, so just doing my own thing and I think it is working for me,” said Phillips.

WOMEN 10,000m

Country athletes filled the podium in the women’s race, with Leyla Liakatos, 20, taking the State title at her first attempt at the distance.

The Wagga Wagga-based Bankstown registered athlete took a cautious approach to the event.

“The plan was just to run and see what I could do. I’d never run a 10k before,” said Liakatos.

The initial pace was taken up by Newcastle’s Laura Simon, a 36:08 10km athlete on the road.

Mid race they chatted about working together.

“She (Laura Simon) led and said can I have some help and I took over for maybe half a lap, then she took back over, then I went back in front of her and then broke apart,” recalled Leyla Liakatos.

Liakatos ran on for the win in 36:16.62, ahead of Laura Simon with 36:49.50, with another Newcastle athlete third - Cicely Brown running 38:04.56. First across the line was Canberra visitor Katie Porra with 35:41.17.

“I’m so excited to win. I’ve never won a state title before and I wasn’t expecting it coming into the race as I had no idea where my 10k was.”

Liakatos was pleased with her time.

“The time was pretty much exactly where Andae (her coach) said I would be around. It was so windy and tough,” she said.

Based in Wagga, Liakatos is coached from the South Coast by Andae Kalemusic.

“I live two minutes from the track, and I have a nice lake to train around, but it does get very hot,” she said.

David Tarboton for Athletics NSW
Images: Josh Phillips leads Tom Do Canto (courtesy of David Tarbotton)

RESULTS:

WOMEN

1 leyla liakatos Bankstown Sports Athletics Club 36:16.62

2 Laura Simon Newcastle Flyers Runners Club 36:49.50

3 Cicely Brown Newcastle Flyers Runners Club 38:04.56

(1 Katie Porra ACT 35:41.17)