Birmingham hits the home ground running

Updated November 2 2012 - 11:35am, first published May 4 2009 - 1:43pm
IN TOP FORM: Australian 10-kilometre record holder Collis Birmingham during yesterday's Ballarat Regional Athletic Centre's annual Lake Relay.
IN TOP FORM: Australian 10-kilometre record holder Collis Birmingham during yesterday's Ballarat Regional Athletic Centre's annual Lake Relay.

OLYMPIAN Collis Birmingham has hit the ground running back in Ballarat one week after breaking the Australian 10-kilometre record.The 24-year-old, who arrived home from the United States last Tuesday, pulled on his Eureka colours for Ballarat Regional Athletics Centre's annual Lake Relay at the weekend.He almost delivered the club a thrilling upset against Ballarat YCW, which has traditionally dominated the event at the Lake Wendouree circuit. Birmingham, running the final leg, closed a one-minute, 30 second deficit back to 28 seconds with a run of eight minutes, four seconds.Paul Fenn led out for a decorated YCW line-up that included marathon men Shane Nankervis and Steve Moneghetti. Eureka young gun Duer Yoa put in a stellar run and clawed back more than 30 seconds for his team.YCW dominated the outing with a clean sweep of the women's events and wins across other men's races in divisions two, three and four.YCW's winning time of 53min 16sec was one of the quickest for a number of years with Eureka running a club record 53min 39sec for second place. YCW dominated the minor grades with wins in divisions two, three and four. The Oveage sections were close with YCWs John Walsh and Maurice Prendergast in good form in the 40+ age group with Harriers in second. Wendouree put in a fine performance to win the 50+ section from Eureka with Pete Fitzgerald setting up the win for Wendouree. Eureka's junior boys were in great form and Laiton Sullivan got their U16 side off to a great start with a 9min 58sec leg. Sullivan received good support from Hein Reimert and Luke Kemp to defeat the YCW side.

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