Darryl Hill and Elizabeth Cox, winners of the 4km cross country. Photo: Paul Harris
Friday 11 November
By Jeremy O’Connell
Narangba’s Elizabeth Cox has finished ahead of the field to take the tape in the women’s 4km cross country race at the Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games.
The 46-year-old was solid from start to finish on the Mudgeeraba course that weaves through Gold Coast Regional Hinterland Park.
Elizabeth led a Queensland trifecta to the line when she won in 17:28, ahead of Daisy Hill’s Marion Hermitage (18:51) and third placed Larissa Wilson (18:55) from Palm Beach.
Competing in her third Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games, Elizabeth was very happy to win so soon after returning from a hamstring injury.
“I was able to go out fairly hard and keep the pace on,” Elizabeth said.
“It was a lovely course to run on – really enjoyable.”
Like a number of masters athletes, Elizabeth has reconnected with sport after a long hiatus.
“I was a cross country runner during my high school days in Tasmania. I did states and nationals. I never did particularly well, but it was my thing. I loved it,” she said.
“I’m really enjoying it!”
While Elizabeth was ecstatic with the win, her approach to competing at these games is reminiscent of many of the 13,000 participants on the Gold Coast.
“You don’t have to come with the intent to win, there are people of all ages and goals. It’s just a really nice experience to come along and be involved and enjoy doing it and seeing other people out there giving it their best shot,” she said.
In the men’s race another Queenslander, Merrimac’s Darryl Hill, held off Toowoomba’s Matt Macdonald to win in 13:24, ahead of Macdonald (13:53) and third placed Giles Moore (14:50), from Wellington Point.
Like Elizabeth, 30-year-old Darryl is experiencing a running rebirth after a lengthy period away from the sport.
“I started running in little athletics in under sevens but had a lull during my teenage years and during university,” he said.
“Then in the last five or six years, I got back into it heavily.”
“I turned 30 so I’m allowed to be a master. I’m just really enjoying getting out there and meeting other people as well.”
(Athletics – distance running comprises four legs over four days. Starting with the beach mile (1.6km) on Wednesday 9 November, the program moved to the bitumen for the 5km road race on Thursday, before today’s 4km cross country. The event ends with tomorrow’s 10.5km trail run. Participants running in all four disciplines will complete a half marathon (21.1km) on four surfaces.)
The 10th biennial Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games is being held 5 – 13 November 2016 on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
The event showcases competition in 43 sports and is hosting 13,000 participants from Queensland, interstate and overseas.
