Yoa charges across line in Ballarat SportzBiz Classic

TEENAGER Duer Yoa out-sprinted Shane Nankervis on the streets of Ballarat to triumph in the SportzBiz 10km Classic yesterday.Yoa had just one second to spare in a confusing finish in Bridge St as he clocked 29 minutes, 57 seconds on an undulating road circuit.While the unassuming Yoa was able to savour another addition to his growing list of distance running achievements, Nankervis was left to lament what might have been. Locked in a titanic two-way battle, Nankervis led Yoa down the home straight through the Bridge Mall. Nankervis was confident he had the kick needed to hold on.However, he hesitated momentarily about 50m from the line when the duo found themselves outside the finishing chute at the Peel St intersection and there was uncertainty where they should go.This was all Yoa needed.He grabbed the ascendancy and claimed victory.Rob Boadle was third in 31:30 after edging clear of Ash Watson, 31:36.Fresh from a 3000m personal best on the track in New Zealand a week earlier, Yoa said the course had been challenging."The hills were tough," he said.Yoa said he had enjoyed the battle with the more experienced Nankervis and given everything he had left in the final dash.The confusion over the closing stages was not the only mix-up for the top two.They made their last charge down Sturt St on the wrong side of the divided road, but this had no bearing on the finish.Although disappointed not to win, Nankervis was pleased with his performance, which he used as a final lead up to the "Run for the Kids" over 14.1km in Melbourne on Sunday, April 5, and part of his preparation for the Queensland Marathon in Brisbane on June 1.Nankervis, 35, said he was now focusing on theses types of feature distance events in Australia rather than travelling the world.He said the world's leading marathoners were now running times out of his reach, and with work and increased family commitments, it was more practical to concentrate on the home circuit.Tracey Fraser took out the women's division of the classic in 38:20.The YCW Athletic Club member played down her effort: "I had a good day."She went in to the 10km assignment fresh from a win in a fun run up Mt Warrenheip a week earlier and outshone favourites Kellie Baird and Rachel Gibney. The three had the race to themselves a long way from home, with the 36-year-old Fraser and Gibney making the pace from Baird.Baird from Ballarat was second in 38:31 with Emma Jackowskt third in 38:47.Classic co-ordinator Paul Hayes said the event had been a resounding success with 461 entries for the 10km and 3km events. Some 438 participants finished.Hayes believes the classic can only get bigger.