Run Crew double at NSW 3000m titles

14 November 2021

Run Crew double at NSW 3000m titles

With over 500 athletes on the start line across the 23 races at the 2021 NSW 3000m Championships, Run Crew featured throughout the event. But they were also at the pointy end, claiming the two state titles on offer – just the fourth club to achieve this feat.

Run Crew’s Aynslee Van Graan clocked 9:07.89 – the sixth fastest time in the history of the event, to take the 39th NSW women’s 3000m Championship. Visiting Canberran Leanne Pompeani was first across the line in 9:06.85. The men’s race was also a battle with a visiting athlete, as Run Crew’s Kieren Tall out sprinted Victorian Craig Huffer on the last lap to take the 18th NSW men’s 3000m title in a time of 8:05.61.

Very gusty winds earlier in the day and rain 30 minutes before the race, all cleared for ideal conditions for the two NSW 3000m championship races.

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After 1000m it looked a race in three with 2018 champion Joe Burgess (SYU), Craig Huffer and Kieren Tall a few seconds ahead of the chase pack, splitting 2:41.65. By the next kilometre, just two remained in contention for the title, Huffer and Tall – reaching the 2000m split in around 5:26. Burgess was now a couple of seconds back, with a further four seconds to a 7-person chase pack. Although Huffer took the bell in the lead, Tall had little trouble accelerating over the last lap to victory in 8:05.61 with Huffer two seconds back on 8:07.61. Burgess was sixth at the bell but was swallowed up by the chasers on the last lap to place 10th. Fourth at the bell, Benny St Lawrence clocked sub 59 on the last lap to comfortably take third and the silver medal. While Newcastle teenager Luke Young grabbed bronze.

Inform winner Tall, explained his tactics.

“I was happy with my race. My plan was to go out quick from the start, considering my good training form,” he said.

“It was a little more tactical than I wanted but I can’t complain. I did what I wanted to do and I’m happy to be back.”

Did he feel confident at the bell with Huffer still leading?

“I was feeling well aerobically, but I knew he (Craig) had a really good kick on him, so I wasn’t sure but I was ready to give it everything.”

He certainly was backing himself.

“You have to be confident in these situations whether you think you have the upper hand or not.”

Tall, who will target Zatopek in January is happy with progress.

“I had a little bit of an interrupted winter (injury), but the last couple of months have been good for me - mileage wise and I’ve been healthy. I’ve done a lot more gym and I feel that is paying off.”

Tall’s coach, who had won the title in 2007 and is the NSW record holder, Ben St Lawrence made a late surge to finish second.

“It took me a while to get the old legs going,” said the 40-year-old.

“I haven’t run a 3k in five years so the aim was to just come out here and run hard. It was a shock to the system early, but I felt better as the race wore on. I just couldn’t get going to start with. I’m really happy with that. It was sub-8:10 and the goal is a marathon next year, so I still have some wheels, but not enough to match those young guys.”

The founder of Run Crew was one of three on the podium from his squad.

“It was awesome for Run Crew - it was a busy night coaching, then racing, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Due to injury early in 2021, talented Newcastle Youth Olympic Games international Luke Young (Newcastle flyers) was racing on the track for the first time this year, but that didn’t stop him taking third.

“I didn’t feel too good. It hurt a lot and bit of a shock to the system, but it is good to be back.”

After missing most of the last track season Young has his goals for this summer.

“I’ll be aiming for some fast 800s and 1500s and break my old PBs.” His excellent best times of 1:48.69 and 3:43.44, date back two summers. He also hopes to press for national senior selection but knows the challenge ahead.

“There is a lot of depth in the 800 and 1500m, but I hope to get the times to match it with them.”

WOMEN

Four athletes were locked together at the mid-point of the NSW women’s 3000m championship, with Canberra’s World XC representative Leanne Pompeani leading South African international Aynslee Van Graan (Run Crew), Holly Campbell (SYU) and teenager Youth Olympic Games representative Jaylah Hancock-Cameron (BAN). Hancock-Cameron was the first to fad by the 2200m mark, followed by Campbell. Seven second ahead of any competition at the bell Van Graan and Pompeani continued accelerating away to be 10 clear by the finish line. Although Van Graan led at the bell she could not hold off the visitor Pompeani, while Van Graan was well satisfied with the State title and a massive 26 second PB time of 9:07.89. Pompeani sliced six seconds from her lifetime best.

Aynslee Van Graan recalled how difficult those last two laps were.

“From two laps to go it was really hard.

“I was aiming for 9:20, so it was better than expected.”

South African Van Graan, who is 1 year 8 months into her four-year visa, has smashed most of her PBs under Run Crew coach Katie Conlon.

Running solo over the last two laps, Holly Campbell (SYU) raced on for an eight second PB time of 9:17.85 as she claimed the silver medal.

“It was a solid run today, not quite what I wanted, but a good first hit out for the season,” said Campbell who has shaken a cycle of recent injuries.

“I’ve had a really good winter, the first for about five years so I’m hoping for some PBs this season.”

One on the radar is her 4:15 1500m PB from 2017.

Campbell owes her turn around to her coach.

“Jeremy Roff, has been really smart with my programming and got me really healthy over the last couple of years. The lockdown probably also helped with really consistent training.”

South Coast teenager Jaylah Hancock-Cameron claimed the bronze medal in a five seconds PB time of 9:24.42.

Changing of the guard

Across the championship races there was evidence of a changing of the guard with a group of new names emerging – and not just teenager.

One was fourth NSW place getter Newcastle Flyer Jessica Noble. The 20-year-old third year physio student, trains with the Ben Toomey and Hans Tiller squad. A representative netballer until she was 16, Noble ran XC at school, but has only seriously emerged in the last year. Her time of 9:35.16, was a 25 seconds PB, although she had run an unofficial 9:43. She put her improvement down to a good recent block of training. She certainly would have received some valuable pre-event tips from her coach Ben’s wife – Bridey Delaney a four-time NSW 3000m champion.

Some teenage girls to impress were Lucy Mauviel (SYU), Sarah Pickering (NEW), Olissa Onley (COF) and 12-year-old Philippa Quarrell (SYD A).

In the men’s Ciaran Rushton nearly made it a clean sweep for Run Crew, placing fourth just 0.18 second from the podium. The 17-year-old took 17 seconds from his PB. Trinity Grammar student Patrick Cantlon, 18, took 16 seconds from his PB to place sixth.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Leanne Pompeani, Aynslee Van Graan, Holly Campbell and Jaylah Hancock-Cameron