BATHURST HALF MARATHON
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Orange runner Rod Draper has continued his domination of the CSU Bathurst Half Marathon, taking out his fifth title with another impressive performance in the 21.1 kilometre run yesterday.
Draper came into the race as an unknown after battling a leg injury for the last few weeks, but the cooler weather that the event was run in served to help him.
He was able to finish in 74 minutes and 34 seconds, one minute and 23 seconds ahead of second placed Bathurst runner Adam Safaric.
Dubbo runner Jane Fardell posted the quickest ever women’s time to be third with 76:13 while Jory Mullins was third male and fourth overall with a time of 79:35.
Draper’s place in the event wasn’t secure until he was given the all clear to compete by his physiotherapist on Thursday, so he was delighted to come away with another win.
“I was pretty happy. I don’t turn up to win, I turn up to run to a time that I train to and sometimes you’re not quite quick enough on the day, but today I was quick enough,” he said.
“I don’t know if they ever get any easier. I’ve been off my PB a little in the last three or four years, so I’m still trying to get back to that and I think that’s possible. I’m not getting any slower.”
The majority of the race was run in a thick fog and the temperature was a cool one degree when the race started. It stayed in single figures until the quickest competitors were across the finish line and the leg pain that Draper had been suffering was never a major issue.
“It was definitely cold. My hands were nearly frozen for the first 10 kilometres. I’ve had a bit of a leg injury and I think the cold weather may have done it good. It didn’t affect me too much at all,” he said.
“I started to feel it in the last three or four kilometres, but by then I knew I was pretty much home.”
“I wasn’t quite sure [if it was going to be a problem], the last couple of weeks I hadn’t really done any longer training whereas I normally would. I knew I had the kays in my legs so I thought I would ease off it and give it a chance to recover. It might have worked out well.”
The Orange athlete already had control of the race as they covered the first 10km. He was only seconds behind Brendan Davies, who took out the 10km division, and had more than 20 seconds advantage over his nearest rivals.
“I did the 10 kay fairly quickly and that was probably what did it for me. I broke those couple of guys behind me, so it worked out for the best,” he said.
“It was a reasonable lead. I’ve been in second spot before, 20 or 30 seconds behind someone, and it’s very hard to make that time up. You have to run negative splits which is rare.
“I was happy with the time. Not being 100 per cent sure of my leg, I thought somewhere around 75 would be good and to get under it and feel pretty strong at the end is good.
“I will be back. I’m not sure about a sixth win, but I will be back. This is my 11th straight time here, whether I’ve run the 10 kay or the half marathon. I can’t see why I’d miss it.”