XC Champs Ballarat - XRC Round 6

Jennifer King
Jul 14
4 min read

Thirty-seven hunters made the 2 hour journey to Ballarat to compete at this year’s Victorian XC championship over a variety of distances.

A highlight of the meet was seeing Hunters Edward Marks and Aidan Velten take out 1^st and 2^nd place in the open men’s 10km race!

Reflecting on his race Ed told us, he “was feeling good during the first half of the race and at the 5km mark decided to accelerate. I started to feel quite tired during the last lap but knew I didn't have far to go and was able to push to the line.” His race went roughly to plan taking an opportunity early to take the lead, “my plan initially was to make a move later in the race. However, at 5km I saw an opportunity to gain a lead around some tight corners and over a small hill.”

Ed is looking to continue his great XCR season and take on the national title in Ballarat; “continue to run XCR and am looking forward to the national championships also held in Ballarat. It's nice to have run the course already because now I know what I'm up against. My goal is to come first because I have placed second and third in the past but have never won before.”

Another incredible performance came from Aiden, reflecting on his run; “I was pretty happy with my run. Ed is running so well at the moment, and he showed his class by dominating the race, so to be up on the podium with him was pretty special. Especially having 2 hunters’ singlets.” Aiden is moving into the open age group while improving on his previous state performance “last year I was 3rd in u20 so I guess 2nd in open is a good step up!”

For the rest of the season Aiden is balancing his training in Canberra and competing in the XRC season, “I am based out of Canberra so don’t get down to many XCR races anymore, but I really wanted to make sure I got this one done ahead of National XCR. Coming up I will race city 2 surf in Sydney, followed by National XCR back at Ballarat and then hopefully getting a really quick 10km back in Melbourne for Run Prix 10km. If I’m lucky I’ll also make it down for another XCR event as they are so much fun!”

Hunters continued to impress across the day collecting podium placing. Congratulations to Maddison King who secured Bronze in the under 18 6km. Kate Seibold dominated the short course with the fastest 6km of the day taking the title for the Open and 50+ categories. Rozlyn Walker took the gold in the 60+ short course championship. Nanci Moore secured the bronze for the 60+ 10km race! Incredible achievements!

In the XRC team scores - the U18 girls team of Maddison King, Jasmine Hume and Serena Bryant topped their age group for the day. The super teams in the 40+, 50+ women secured the 1^st and 3rd best team score for the short course and the top score in the 60+ women’s short course. The team of Kate Seibold, Rozlyn Walker and Kara Gilbert also secured the top team score in the Open women short course for the competition!

Special thanks to John Mooney from the Emerson School for giving up his time on Saturday to drive the bus to chilly Ballarat. Taking 10 hunters, the club tent and banner. John was with us for an early pick up at Duncan Mackinnon and arriving back in the evening.

We welcome all the first-time XCR runners competing at the championship! Awesome efforts to runners backing up from last weekends Gold Coast Marathon to compete in the baby blue on Saturday.

Go Hunters!