Yass runner James Mason has won this year’s 10km Cherry Chase, overcoming a tiring preparation having raced a three kilometre track event in Canberra the night before.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He showed no signs of fatigue on his way to completing the challenging 10km course at Young’s Chinese Tribute Garden in just 38 minutes and 10 seconds on Sunday morning.
He crossed the line more than three minutes before his closest rival Anthony Sleeman.
READ ALSO: Photos from the Colour Run and Cherry Chase
Mason said his legs were a bit tired, and considering the hilly nature of the course and the wind on the day, he was pleased with the end result.
“I wasn’t really too worried about the time but I think I did pretty well,” he said.
“Last night I raced in Canberra in a three thousand metre track race. So two races in 12 hours made it interesting, the legs were a bit tired but I seemed to go okay.”
Mason hadn’t seen the course before but enjoyed the descent in the final few kilometres of the run home.
“I thought I’d come out to Young and have a go and it’s a good course I enjoyed it,” he said.
“It was pretty hilly which was good. It was nice and challenging. It was two loops so by the second one the legs were starting to burn a bit. The last bit is all down hill for the last few kilometres so you can run nice and fast to the finish line which works out well.”
READ ALSO: PCYC fight night photos
The Yass native said he races a few times a year at various events and is targeting this weekend’s 10km race at the Stromlo Running Festvial in Canberra.
Earlier this year he completed the Sydney Marathon in three hours.
“I’ll have to come back next year,” Mason said.
Rounding out the placegetters was Wayne Hibbens who clocked 45 minutes and 33 seconds.
First place in the 10km female race was Polly Chalvet in a time of 46 minutes and 49 seconds.
Tania Cahill and Chelsea Anderson filled the minor placings in second and third respectively.
The 5km event was won by youngster Riley Whatman who blitzed the course on his way to recording a winning time of 20 minutes and 37 seconds.
Cody Gurney was 54 seconds behind in second place edging out Scott Gurney in third.
The female 5km race was won by Annabel Turner who passed the post in 24 minutes and 29 seconds.
Mel Webb and Mollie Walsh ran second and third.
Many runners then participated in the 2.5km colour run which was won by 11-year-old Billy Lamb.
Each runner at the end received a bag of coloured powder to throw in the air simultaneously to create a massive cloud of colour.
This year’s event was the second annual Cherry Chase: Chase The Colour combining both the 10km and 5km Cherry Chase and the Colour Run.