SYDNEY 10 REVIEW: Clifford and Nordberg claim titles

19 May 2024

SYDNEY 10 REVIEW: Clifford and Nordberg claim titles

At the 16th edition of the Sydney 10, Tasmanian Sam Clifford and Run Crew’s Abi Nordberg claimed comfortable wins on a perfect day for running around Sydney Olympic Park.

Over 1700 athletes competed across the morning over three distances 10km, 5km and 2.5km. The races incorporated the 93rd NSW Road Running Championships, first held in 1927.

MEN – Ed Goddard takes NSW title

Former world cross country representative as a junior, Sam Clifford from the Apple Isle, was expected to be in the mix, but probably not run as well as he did. Sam, defending champion Ed Goddard and ACT’s Daniel Dreher, broke away almost from the start, as Sam positioned himself right on the back of Ed. The pace was on, as they passed the 5km in 14:32, factionally outside race record pace (28:55). Sam remained on Ed’s back until they were making their final run up Olympic Boulevard and within a mile of the finish. Sam then made a break and sprinted home for what was in the end a comfortable win in 29:01 to 29:22.

Sam Clifford clocked the fourth fastest time in the race’s history, behind our three sub-29 athletes Kieran Tall, Kieren Perkins and Tom Do Canto. Ed Goddard (UTN) became the 93rd NSW open 10km Road Running Champion in the exact same time he won last year.

ACT’s Daniel Dreher continues too impressive. He remained with the break away leaders past the 3km mark, passing 5km in 14:41, before slowing to finish third in 29:53. Second NSW athlete in the State title race was Luke Hince (KEJ) running 29:57, ahead of Harry McGill (BAN) in third with 30:05.

Race record holder Kieren Tall passed 5km in 15:00 (4th place), before fading to finish in 31:13 in 20th. For Kieren, who continues his return from major illness, just getting to the finish line was victory for him as he continues to make good progress in his return to full running. Recently crowned world junior race-walking champion, Isaac Beacroft, 16, was ahead of his 32:00-minute race goal at half-way, going on to clock 31:55 and defeat many specialist runners.

WOMEN – Abi Nordberg leads Run Crew trifecta

Run Crew’s Abi Nordberg continued her terrific 2024 adding victory in the Sydney 10 to her Sydney Half Marathon win two weeks ago in a smart time of 74:35.

Abi’s win today, in a time of 33:13, also bettered her silver medal winning performance in 2018, when she clocked 33:15. Today’s win was never in doubt passing the 5km mark in 16:29, 15 seconds ahead of Victorian Gemma Maini. Abi only slowed slightly on her second lap, with a time of 16:43 minutes, as she finished 44 seconds ahead of second placed Stephanie Kelly from the ACT. Stephanie, 30, who set track PBs last summer at the National championships (1500m 4:22 and 5000m 16:28), made a big breakthrough today with a 96 seconds PB time of 33:57. Run Crew’s Bec Lowe took silver in the NSW title race clocking 34:04, ahead of Victorian Gemma Maini (34:13). It was a Run Crew trifecta in the State Championships battle with sixth placed Breanna Golub taking the bronze medal in 34:59.

Full results: http://results.skywalkercreative.com.au/results.aspx?CId=20034&RId=221

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Ed Goddard leads Sam Clifford and Daniel Dreher (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)