Up until Sunday morning, the Bathurst Edgell Jog committee was unsure if Canberra local Rorey Hunter would be back to defend his 2017 title.
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But return and defend it he did.
Hunter finished in a time of exactly 23 minutes, one minute and 23 seconds ahead of Reece Langdon, his fellow Canberra resident, to win the 43rd edition of the Bathurst Edgell Jog.
The 25-year-old’s aim was to finish with the race record at 7.5 kilometres, which he set in 2017 in a time of 22 minutes and 40 seconds, but fell 20 seconds short.
“I basically took it out from the gun and I was aiming for that record but unfortunately I didn’t get it,” he said.
“However, I still ran a pretty good time.
“I think it was one of the top two runs of all time [in the Edgell Jog], which is good.”
Since the course changed from an eight kilometre race to a 7.5 kilometre race in 2011, Hunter is the only runner to have finished the course in 23 minutes or less.
The sharp increase in elevation on Esrom Street always proves to be one of the most challenging aspects of the course and that was no different in 2018.
“The hills up the back, they just really kick your ass,” he said.
“But there’s some nice down hills to catch your breath but those hills really slow you down.
“You’ve got to work really hard.”
Hunter built a strong, early lead and as the race progressed, the gap between first and second grew.
Due to the Canberra local not having much close competition on his back, he was unable to push himself more than what we was capable of.
“It’s always tough when you’re out on your own, without someone to push you, but I was happy with my effort,” he said.
“I always had to keep pushing because my training partner [Reece Langdon] came second. He’s in good shape, so I had to keep myself honest.”
Hunter’s next big race is the Noosa Bolt, in November.
He’ll keep up his regular training scheme, working hard, plenty of gym sessions and keeping his work consistent and hard.
The race record still belongs to Shaun Creighton, who finished the 1997 race in a time of 21 minutes and 46 seconds.
Orange resident Mitch Williamson finished in third in the male category and fourth overall, in a time of 26 minutes and 35 seconds.
Fellow Orange native Nathan Sutherland finished fourth in the male category and sixth overall, in a time of 27 minutes and 13 seconds.
In 2017, Hunter smashed the previous record, in the 7.5 kilometre version of the race, by 50 seconds
The old record was held by Jordan Gusman, who in 2015 set a time of 23 minutes and 30 seconds.