Verwey, Sloss are marathon victors

FRANKSTON runner Dane Verwey made it back to back Wangaratta Chronicle Marathon wins on Sunday - but no one was more surprised than him. He only decided to defend his title at the last minute, entering the day before yesterday’s event, when he and his wife decided to visit her mother at Killawarra. “It was kinda last minute, and I hadn’t trained specifically for the event, but I do a lot of running and knew I was in reasonable nick,” Verwey said after completing the 42.195km course in a time of two hours, 40 minutes and 41 seconds. “It was a bit slower than my winning time of last year (2.33.55), but I’m rapt with the win. “I ran with the pace setter at around 3.50 minute pace for a fair bit of the race then kicked away. “It’s the first marathon I’ve done this year and conditions were just perfect...it’s a great, flat and really enjoyable course.” Verwey now has his sights set on the Melbourne Marathon later in the year. “I ran it last year and pace set for my friend Gemma Maini, who won the women’s event...completing it in 2.35.00.” Lee Martin of Mitcham was second home in the marathon in a time of 2.43.56, while Cameron Hall was third in 2.44.54. Samantha Sloss was the first female home in the marathon in a time of 3.23.47, with Lauren Scott second (3.51.02) and Cheryl Symons third (4.07.28). Sloss relocated from Melbourne last month to take up employment at Northeast Health Wangaratta, and not even a tumble at the Roy Street bridge could slow her down. “I set myself to run under three and half hours and was really happy with my time,” she said, admitting her partner, Hugh Bismo - who grew up in Wangaratta, played a role in her success. “He was out front, riding the bike, helping with my pacing,” Sloss said. “I wasn’t up for any long conversations so he did all the talking.” The half marathon proved a happy hunting ground for Griffith-based runner Aidan Fattore, who won the event in one hour, 16 minutes and 24 seconds. Fattore placed third in the 10km event last year, but reveled in yesterday’s cooler conditions on course. “I’m use to running in 37 degrees at home so this morning was a nice change,” he said, embracing his children. “I’m rapt to have set a PB, sitting on 3.40 minute pace for much of the race.” Three minutes behind was second placed Stephen Smith (1.19.25), with Wangaratta Runners’ team member Ryan Claxton in third (1.21.30). Eighteen-year-old Giann Sebire of Wangaratta was the first female home in the half marathon in a time of one hour, 26 minutes and 43 seconds. A member of main event sponsor Garry Nash & Co Real Estate’s team, Sebire set a PB and improved on her previous best finish of third in 2022. “I ran solo for much of the race, using some of the male runners for pacing,” she said, looking ahead to the cross country running season in a few months. Almost 300 runners competed in the 10km event, with Porepunkah’s Mark De Campo the first home in a time of 35 minutes, 55 seconds, ahead of James Maguire Capone (37.24), and Jake Mountney (37.45) running for the Old Faithfulls Brew Bar team. The 38-year-old was surprised by his win, but said he’d enjoyed the perfect conditions. “It’s a very well organised event...the early start is great and the variance on the course - from footpath to road and gravel track along the Ovens River - makes it thoroughly enjoyable,” he said. Cathedral College Wangaratta teacher Penny Townshend was the first female home, completing the 10km distance in 41.07, ahead of Olivia Bodycott (46.36) and Jess Cox (48.49). Coming back from a knee injury, Townshend was delighted with her win, having placed second on several occasions. The largest field for the day - of just over 300 - competed in the 5km event, with first home being Wangaratta’s Josh Ledger (Ledger Racing) in a time of 17.03, ahead of Eric Wood (17.10) and Michael Hosking (17.16). The win, after a recent six week injury lay-off, adds to the 18-year-old’s recent victory in the 7.5km City to City event. A leading pack of five kept together for much of the race with Ledger kicking clear with around 500 metres to go. Two-time Australian Olympic steeplechaser (3000m) Victoria Mitchell was among the pack and was the first female home in a time of 18.50, with Bella Fulford second (22.20) and Louise Fraser third (23.38). The Mansfield-based PE teacher said the flat, fast course was a good run to help her return to competition after almost eight months out of racing due to a “smashed knee” in a horse riding incident. The 2km Primary School Challenge drew more than 200 entrants with the first three runners all completing the distance within eight minutes. More coverage of the events, including full race results, will appear in Friday’s edition of the Wangaratta Chronicle. Results: Marathon Male: 1st Dane Verwey 2.40.41; 2nd Lee Martin 2.43.56; 3rd Cameron Hall 2.44.54. Female: 1st Samantha Sloss 3.23.47; 2nd Lauren Scott 3.51.02; 3rd Cheryl Symons 4.07.28 Half Marathon Male: 1st Aidan Fattore 1.16.24; 2nd Stephen Smith 1.19.25; 3rd Ryan Claxton 1.21.30. Female: 1st Giann Sebire 1.26.43, 2nd Halisa Nicolaci 1.34.53; 3rd Laura Hill 1.35.57. 10KM Male: 1st Mark De Campo 35.55; 2nd James Maguire Capone 37.24, Jake Mountney 37.45. Female: 1st Penny Townshend 41.07; 2nd Oliviah Bodycott 46.36; 3rd Jess Cox 48.49. 5KM Male: 1st Josh Ledger 17.03; 2nd Eric Wood 17.10; 3rd Michael Hosking 17.16. Female: 1st Victoria Mitchell 18.50; Bella Fulford 22.20; 3rd Louise Fraser 23.38.

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