TIPPINS BACK IN FINE STYLE
Powerful sprinter Duncan Tippins made his first appearance with the SA Athletic League this season a winning one in the 2007 Reynella Gift. Tippins, a Bay Sheffield finalist in 2004, signalled an ominous warning to his rivals in clearly winning the feature race at Reynella and the 32 year old looks to be in the best shape of his career after being a top performer with the League for many years. Behind Tippins in the final were the emerging David Gross and Stephan Thiel, with all three placegetters now heading to Flinders on their way to major country events at Whyalla and Mt Gambier.
The Women’s Gift over 120 metres was once again dominated by South Australia’s premier female sprinter Leanne Hodge who was the clear victor in the final against the promising Emily Bourke and 1998 Bay Sheffield Women’s Gift winner Lynette Mattingly. Later in the evening, League newcomer Holly Noack made a remarkable impression in taking out the 300m Women’s race from the backmark in a classy display.
The middle distance racing at Reynella produced some stirring finishes, with Matthew Fenech narrowly overcoming EAD athlete Michael Roeger in the 1600m Open, Lucy Buckley winning her first ever sash in fine style over 800 metres for women and the highly talented Brian Golden producing his trademark finishing burst to claim the 800m Novice. The veterans also put on an exciting spectacle with scratchmarker Mark Beveridge able to pass frontmarkers Gary Zeuner and Peter Noblet close to the finishing post.
The cool but windless conditions were complimented by a large full moon, providing a superb setting for runners and spectators. In other races, nippy sprinter David Wujek cruised to an easy win in the 120m Over 35s final, Michael Nitschke made it back-to-back Reynella 300m Open crowns and Matthew Jose impressively took out the 300m race for Under 20 athletes.
RESULTS
120m Open Reynella Gift
1st – Duncan Tippins (6.5m)
2nd – David Gross (9.5m)
3rd – Stephan Thiel (9.0m)
Time: 12.60secs
120m Women’s Gift
1st – Leanne Hodge (4.75m)
2nd – Emily Bourke (11.75m)
3rd – Lynette Mattingly (8.75m)
Time: 14.34secs
120m Over 35s
1st – David Wujek (7.25m)
2nd – Ali Saliu (14.5m)
3rd – Paul Brattoli (15.0m)
Time: 13.75secs
300m Open
1st – Michael Nitschke (23m)
2nd – Stephan Thiel (24m)
3rd – Alexander Bubner (10m)
Time: 34.30secs
300m Women
1st – Holly Noack (18m)
2nd – Paige White (38m)
3rd – Lucy Buckley (45m)
Time: 38.67secs
300m Under 20s
1st – Matthew Jose (21m)
2nd – Brad Schutz (22m)
3rd – Thomas Smith (25m)
Time: 36.10secs
800m Novice
1st – Brian Golden (52m)
2nd – Shane Moss (102m)
3rd – Simon Thompson (80m)
Time: 1min 56.78secs
800m Over 35s
1st – Mark Beveridge (Scr)
2nd – Gary Zeuner (95m)
3rd – Peter Noblet (200m)
Time: 2mins 9.76secs
800m Women
1st – Lucy Buckley (92m)
2nd – Kirsty Meekins (110m)
3rd – Celeste Knowles (98m)
Time: 2mins 14.34secs
1600m Open
1st – Matthew Fenech (135m)
2nd – Michael Roeger (170m)
3rd – Peter Davis (130m)
Time: 4mins 12.72secs