Weekly News Report 13-11-2023

Kate Dzienis • November 13, 2023

IAU 50km World Championships, India
Feral Pig, WA
Member, Racing Updates
Upcoming Events

IAU 5OKM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

On Sunday, 5 November the IAU 50km World Championships were held in Hyderabad, India and the Aussies had fantastic representation through its AURA members Wayne Spies (captain), Ben MacCronanand Tom Brimelow.

A total of 20 federations took part in the event, with 46 men and 31 women finishing.

Winners for the Men’s 50km were Chakib Lachgar Latrache ESP (2:48:20), Alejandro Jimenez Vicente ESP (2:49:30) and Jesus Angel Olmos Pascual ESP (2:50:12) – an all Spaniard podium, whilst for the Women’s 50km podium spots went to Carla Molinaro GBR (3:18:23), Andrea Pomaranski USA (3:19:07) and Sarah Webster GBR (3:20:07).

In the team competition, the standings were as follows for the Women’s Team: Great Britain (9:59:07), USA (10:18:11) and Croatia (10:53:20) and for the Men’s Team: Spain (8:28:02), India (8:48:50) and Great Britain (8:51:58).

The Aussie men did an amazing job representing the Green and Gold, with Wayne Spies closing off his 50km race in an incredible time of 3:03:42 and coming in 21^st, and Tom Brimelow finishing his performance with an amazing 3:16:18, in at 36^th. Unfortunately Ben MacCronan had a leg issue, which forced him to withdraw at 25km, but he’s on the mend now!

FERAL PIG

Unfortunately, 2023 was ‘The Year That Feral Wasn’t’ with the Feral Pig Ultra cancelled the morning of Saturday, 4 November – the day it was meant to kick off. Sadly, no fewer than 5 bush fires had started up early in the morning out on sections of the course, and even those in the suburbs could spot the smoke coming from the Perth Hills.

All those who had trained for the distances – 100mi, 100km, 50mi, 50km and 23km – were incredibly supportive of the tough call to make by race organisers at Ultra Series, however the safety of runners has, and always will be, the most vital, and Feral runners got together early Sunday, 5 November for a collective group run from Elizabeth Quay in the city to Fremantle to show their support.

MEMBER & RACING UPDATES

On Sunday, 12 November, American Charlie Lawrence from Boulder, CO broke the 50mi world record with a 4:48:21 finish at Tunnel Hill in Vienna, IL. His pace was 5.46 minute/mile, breaking the 2019 record set by Jim Walmsley in 4:50:08 at the HOKA One Project Carbon X event in CA.

So there you have it.

AURA’s Greg Wilson ran in the 2023 Chicago Marathon in early October, amongst 49,000 entrants he finished 11,363^rd in 3:32:43. His efforts placed him 11^th in the world for his age group M70.

Greg was just 5min 23sec behind the winner, whilst 8 M70 runners were within 2min in front of him.

Fantastic performance Greg, congratulations on your Chicago Marathon! We love seeing you race and hearing about your incredible athleticsm!

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Great Southern Stage Run will be held from 16-18 November in WA; Hysterical Carnage Backyard Ultra from 17-19 November in Loxton, SA; GSER from 17-19 November in Harrietville, Vic; and the Stromlo Running Festival from 18-19 November in Stromlo, ACT.