Gumleaf
August 10th, 2008, 05:41 AM
16:13 AEST Sun Aug 10 2008
Australia has reclaimed its most famous running race with locals taking first and second at this year's City2Surf in Sydney.
But with victory came tragedy, when one young man dropped dead just 200m before the finish line.
Not since 1997 has an Australian male won the 14km race but the Beijing Olympics kept top athletes from Tanzania and Kenya from making it to Sydney.
A record 70,000 people entered the race and raised about $1 million for a number of charities by garnering private donations via the internet.
Canberra public servant Martin Dent won with an official time of 41 minutes and 12 seconds - a personal best for the 29-year-old.
"I'm absolutely ecstatic," Dent told AAP. "I've been running this race since I was 13 years old."
"Third was my best coming into today and to win it is a dream come true for me."
Gold Coast resident Michael Shelley, 24, came in second with a time of 41 minutes 24 seconds.
Rebecca Lowe took first place in the women's category finishing in 47 minutes and 18 seconds.
The 19-year-old Sydney resident is a student at the University of Florida and a member of the university's track and cross country team.
"I'm really excited to win, it was my second time running it competitively," Lowe told AAP.
"I wanted to run the first 10km hard. I didn't want to leave it until the final 4km because it's pretty easy from there."
Second place in the women's category went to unseeded runner Emily Brichacek, 18, from Canberra, with a finishing time of 48 minutes 12 seconds at her first attempt.
Tragedy struck around 11am when a 26-year-old man dropped to the ground just 200m from the finish at Bondi Beach.
On site emergency crews worked to revive him but were unsuccessful, a NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said. The dead man's identity was not immediately available.
The race started in chilly but clear winter conditions at 9am (AEST) at the intersection of William and College streets in the CBD.
Runners headed east and climbed the aptly-named Heartbreak Hill, the highest point of New South Head Road, before descending to the finish line.
Young and old finished the 38th annual event with smiles and a commitment to come back next year for a repeat performance.
Julie Mathieson, 41, and her partner Gordon Walker, 67, flew from their hometown of Wellington, New Zealand, and finished with times of 90 minutes and two hours respectively.
"I started running when I was at school so it would be 50 or 60 years," Mr Walker told AAP. "Ran away from the teachers to wag and hide and I've never stopped."
Damon and Cath McMahon, both 41, joined their 11-year-old son Jayden, who has run the City2Surf four years in a row and beat mum and dad to the finish with a time of 87 minutes.
The Sydney family was especially happy since Mrs McMahon was sidelined from last year's race while being treated for breast cancer, from which she has since recovered.
"This year I was just happy to make it over the finish line - "It's a real personal achievement," Mrs McMahon told AAP.
"Last year I was waiting at the finish with a bandana on my head and no hair."
Scores of runners were treated at the finish line for injuries, dehydration and exhaustion but no other serious incidents were reported.
Some race entrants added to the experience by running in fancy dress.
Tinker Bell, a bulging Batman and a group dressed up as tradesman's tools all pounded the pavement.
One couple wore blow-up horse outfits from foot to waist and finished off the theme with cowboy shirts and hats.
Fairfax Radio Network said the victim was from Darlinghurst in Sydney's inner city.
Australia has reclaimed its most famous running race with locals taking first and second at this year's City2Surf in Sydney.
But with victory came tragedy, when one young man dropped dead just 200m before the finish line.
Not since 1997 has an Australian male won the 14km race but the Beijing Olympics kept top athletes from Tanzania and Kenya from making it to Sydney.
A record 70,000 people entered the race and raised about $1 million for a number of charities by garnering private donations via the internet.
Canberra public servant Martin Dent won with an official time of 41 minutes and 12 seconds - a personal best for the 29-year-old.
"I'm absolutely ecstatic," Dent told AAP. "I've been running this race since I was 13 years old."
"Third was my best coming into today and to win it is a dream come true for me."
Gold Coast resident Michael Shelley, 24, came in second with a time of 41 minutes 24 seconds.
Rebecca Lowe took first place in the women's category finishing in 47 minutes and 18 seconds.
The 19-year-old Sydney resident is a student at the University of Florida and a member of the university's track and cross country team.
"I'm really excited to win, it was my second time running it competitively," Lowe told AAP.
"I wanted to run the first 10km hard. I didn't want to leave it until the final 4km because it's pretty easy from there."
Second place in the women's category went to unseeded runner Emily Brichacek, 18, from Canberra, with a finishing time of 48 minutes 12 seconds at her first attempt.
Tragedy struck around 11am when a 26-year-old man dropped to the ground just 200m from the finish at Bondi Beach.
On site emergency crews worked to revive him but were unsuccessful, a NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said. The dead man's identity was not immediately available.
The race started in chilly but clear winter conditions at 9am (AEST) at the intersection of William and College streets in the CBD.
Runners headed east and climbed the aptly-named Heartbreak Hill, the highest point of New South Head Road, before descending to the finish line.
Young and old finished the 38th annual event with smiles and a commitment to come back next year for a repeat performance.
Julie Mathieson, 41, and her partner Gordon Walker, 67, flew from their hometown of Wellington, New Zealand, and finished with times of 90 minutes and two hours respectively.
"I started running when I was at school so it would be 50 or 60 years," Mr Walker told AAP. "Ran away from the teachers to wag and hide and I've never stopped."
Damon and Cath McMahon, both 41, joined their 11-year-old son Jayden, who has run the City2Surf four years in a row and beat mum and dad to the finish with a time of 87 minutes.
The Sydney family was especially happy since Mrs McMahon was sidelined from last year's race while being treated for breast cancer, from which she has since recovered.
"This year I was just happy to make it over the finish line - "It's a real personal achievement," Mrs McMahon told AAP.
"Last year I was waiting at the finish with a bandana on my head and no hair."
Scores of runners were treated at the finish line for injuries, dehydration and exhaustion but no other serious incidents were reported.
Some race entrants added to the experience by running in fancy dress.
Tinker Bell, a bulging Batman and a group dressed up as tradesman's tools all pounded the pavement.
One couple wore blow-up horse outfits from foot to waist and finished off the theme with cowboy shirts and hats.
Fairfax Radio Network said the victim was from Darlinghurst in Sydney's inner city.