Ben Wilen, an emerging distance talent within GIAAC, heads a chasing group half-a-mile into yesterday’s race. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0576929)
STEVE DAWES won his third Liberation Day seven-mile road race in five years but was happy enough to admit that it was no great run despite a one second personal best for the course.
Dawes loped across the White Rock finish line in 38min. 47sec. to remain well down the all-time race ranking list which remains headed by Dave Kreckeler, who clocked 34-39 as far back as 1966.
In Dawes’ defence, he is capable of much better and with one eye on Wednesday’s big Fortis Golden Series meeting, at which he will go over 1,500 metres, he was again running well within himself yesterday morning.
‘It was nice conditions to run fast,’ he said afterwards.
‘I just ran the same pace the guys [Dave Dyke and Mark Mercier] started with and stuck with it.’
By the L’Ancresse crossroads Dyke and Mercier were beginning to drop off Dawes, who was to win by 1min. 43sec. from Dyke. Mercier, who is still nursing himself back after a lengthy injury lay-off, finished third a further 40sec. back.
The best race was for fifth, sixth and seventh spots for which the unrelated Tim and Dan Smith were involved in a sprint finish with Stuart Le Noury.
Tim, on holiday in the island and more suited to 800 and 1,500s, showed a good turn of pace and headed the trio home.
The performance of race walker Le Noury raised a few eyebrows but, having admitted defeat to the Smiths, slowed over the final 40 metres to cross the line at his usual walking pace.
The women’s honours went, for the first time, to Martine Scholes.
She became the sixth different winner in as many years with a comfortable 45min. 6sec.
Although a marginal PB for the race, like Dawes she had plenty in reserve.
‘I was under strict instructions to take it easy ahead of Wednesday,’ said the women’s winner who will be aiming to break her own island 1,500m record in the face of stiff local and UK opposition at the Fortis meeting.
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