Naomi Hunter has posted her second win for the season, finishing 12 seconds ahead of her nearest rival.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
On a new six-kilometre course by the Wimmera River, she finished in a time of 37.31, hotly pursued by husband David, who finished 12 seconds further behind.
In third place, two minutes later, was fastest runner Bal Sukpreet.
In the sub-junior one-kilometre event, Chloe Hunter was the winner on handicap, followed by Olivia Hunter.
Naomi had trouble with her Achilles tendon last year but showed enough form to win a five-kilometre race just one race prior to the previous race.
She is more of a sprinter and has found the longer distances in the cross country races a challenge.
In the previous race, which was eight kilometres, she was doing really well for over half the race until she decided she had had enough. However, this week she proved her form by keeping all challengers out.
David said he was trying hard to catch her, but she was too strong.
It was a memorable day for another reason too. Foundation member Keith Hames conferred life memberships on race sponsors Gary and Sharon Howden for their contribution to the club over many years. Congratulations Gary and Sharon.
The next race will be held at Concongella Vineyard, Navarre Road, Stawell, on Saturday, June 23.
It will be a 6.5-kilometre championship race.
Second Victory for Reynolds
Andrew Reynolds won his second race for the year on Sunday in the Fenn Family 8000 Metre Handicap conducted by the Stawell and Ararat Cross Country Club at McDonald Park near Ararat.
What a contrast it was though to his first victory back in late April when it was an unseasonably warm and humid day.
On Sunday it was cold, wet, windy and very muddy.
These conditions did not deter Andrew, who immediately after greeting the judge, raced off to be the runner for his son's under 13 football team.
"There was no time to thaw out at the footy. I came home in the early afternoon absolutely saturated," Andrew said later that night.
Second placing went to the consistent Adrian Vanraaphorst who was 18 seconds behind Andrew.
Chris Barwick was a further 32 seconds back in third position.
Next Sunday the club travels to Moyston for the running of the Wilde Family 5000 metre handicap.