NSW Road Relays: Race records for Bankstown and Run Crew

Published Sun 06 Aug 2023

6 August 2023

NSW Road Relays: Race records for Bankstown and Run Crew

The 71st NSW Road Relays will be remembered for a race record by the Run Crew women and the closest men’s race in history where just three seconds separated winners Bankstown ahead of Run Crew.

MEN 4x4km road relay

On paper, Bankstown were strong favourites, but the withdrawal of Hamish Longworth opened the door for an upset. It would come down to a last leg battled between Bankstown’s Josh Johnson dual Olympian, Ben St Lawrence.

LEG 1

Most teams had their best or second-best runners on this leg. The pack split up on the second lap with Ed Goddard (UTS Norths) and Arron Spiessberger-Parke (Bankstown) putting a gap into the field. They clocked splits of 11:13 and 11:15 respectively.

Luke Hince (KEJ) kept his team in touch, with a 11:25 split, but the performances of the leg were from Ben Jagger (Run Crew) who ran 11:24, and teenager Ben Thomas (Randwick Botany) with 11:30

1.UTN 11:13, 2. BAN 11:15, 3. RCR 11:24, 4. KEJ 11:25, 5. RBH 11:30, 6. SYU 11:36

LEG 2

Late replacement Alex Gruen did a great job for Bankstown, opening up a 24 second lead with his 11:30 split. UTS Norths, Kembla Joggers and Run Crew were together in podium positions.

1.BAN 22:46, 2. UTN 23:10, 3. KEJ 23:13, 4. RCR 23:17, 5. SYU 23:35, RBH 23:57

LEG 3

Day three in any golf tournament is known as moving day, and so it was on leg 3 of this relay. Bankstown opened the door allowing UTS Norths to pass them. Run Crew climbed to within six seconds, and Sydney University were a further four seconds back. UTS Norths were serviced by 2022 NSW Distance Runner of the Year Leo Patterson (11:48 split), Run Crew by Gavin Eccles (11:50) and Sydney Uni with Lachlan Townsend (11:35). Just 12 seconds now cover the first four teams, and it was anyone race.

1. UTN 34:59, 2.BAN 35:01, 2. RCR 35:07, SYU 35:11, 5. KEJ 35:28, 6. RBH 37:26

LEG 4

UTS Norths held the lead well into leg 4, but Josh Johnson eventually took the lead for Bankstown. Now the question was could former Australian 10,000m record holder Ben St Lawrence (Run Crew) mow down Johnson? Benny Saint gave it a shot, but Josh and Bankstown would not be denied, holding on for a 3 second win. St Lawrence split 11:23, while Johnson 11:27. Ben Bishop steamed home with a 11:44 leg to secure the bronze medal. UTS Norths’ gallant anchor Daniel Francken split 12:21. Also of note was the anchor leg from RBH’s Stefan Music a sizzling 11:15 – equal second fastest split of the day.

1.BAN 46:29, 2.RCR 46:32, 3. SYU 46:56, UTN 47:21, KEJ 47:27, 6. 48:42

Bankstown’s 2018 winning time of 45:49 and Randwick Botany’s 2012 time of 46:27 are the only two better times in history.

Fastest Splits in 2023

Since 2009, the fastest split has been recorded by Jordan Gusman (11:03) and James Nipperess (11:12). Ed now #3 all-time.

11:13 Ed Goddard UTN

11:15 Stefan Music RBH

11:15 Arron Spiessberger-Parke BAN

11:23 St Lawrence RCR

11:24 Ben Jagger RCR

11:25 Luke Hince KEJ

11:27 Josh Johnson BAN

11:30 Ben Thomas RBH

11:30 Alex Gruen BAN

11:35 Lachlan Townsend SYU

11:36 Connor Whiteley SYU

11:44 Ben Bishop SYU

11:48 Leo Patterson UTN

11:48 Alex Seal KEJ

11:49 Luke Young NEW

WOMEN 4x4km road relay

Former NSW XC champion Kate Spencer clocked a terrific opening leg time of 13:08 for UTS Norths. Newcastle Flyers were off to a great start courtesy of a brilliant 13:21 leg by 17-year-old Hyewon Wilson – eventually the fourth fastest split of the day. After a solid start from teenager Bronte Oates, Run Crew were unstoppable following Gemma Jenkins’ second leg that put the club 60 seconds ahead of the field. Over the final two legs, there was a private battle between Run Crew pair - third leg Niamh Allen and anchor Aynslee Van Graan. Eventually just 0.077 seconds separating them with Niamh clocking 12:38.383 ahead of Aynslee 12:38.460. In the last 15 years, only Olympian Milly Clark, with 12:32, have split a faster time. The Run Crew squad clocked 52:42 minutes – four minutes faster than the winning time in 2022 and the fastest winning time in history of the race by 45 seconds.

Anchoring Newcastle flyers was 2022 NSW Distance Runner of the Year Jessica Noble who was back from injury. She ran a comfortable 13:43 leg, and by that stage the silver was safety in their hands. They finished in 56:03 minutes faster than the winning time in the last two editions of the race (2022 and 2019).

With an all-round consistent performance, defending champions Randwick Botany were third in 57:36, not far short of their 2022 winning time. Helping them to the bronze were team members Lora Roff, Lucy Hincksman, Ruby Fry and Sophie Ferenczi.

Fastest Splits in 2023

12:38 Niamh Allen RCR

12:38 Aynslee Van Graan RCR

13:08 Kate Spencer UTN

13:21 Hyewon Wilson NEW

13:26 Bronte Oates RCR

13:43 Jessica Noble NEW

13:55 Hannah Anderson NEW

13:57 Gemma Jenkins RCR

13:58 Lora Roff RBH

13:59 Ruby Fry RBH

14:12 Erin Blundell SYU