Hills dominates Open State Cross Country Titles

Hills Districts Athletics Club duo Matthew Clarke and Caitlin Adams were dominant performers at the State Cross Country Championships on Saturday, picking up the Open Titles at Victoria Park.

Tokyo Olympic Steeplechaser, Clarke won the Open Men's State Title, running a 30:51 10km, to finish ahead of 2022 State 10km Road Champion Adrian Potter (Adelaide Harriers) who ran 31.16 and Hills runner Max Stevens (32.16).

Adams won the Open Women's Title with a 34:48 10km, while Pembroke's Lucy Mauviel finished second with 36.42 and Brooke Hines of Saints third (37.16).   

See the full results list here

Caitlin Adams, Bib 4, manoeuvring the water crossing on her way to winning the Open Women's State Cross Country Championship Title.

It was the final Cross Country race of the Athletics SA season before of the 2022 Australian Cross Country Championships in Oakbank (SA) on August 27. 

Nominate for SA's team here by Friday, August 5

Clarke, who was disappointed to miss out on Commonwealth Games and World Athletics Championship selection, said he had a point to prove when he took to the course on Saturday.

"It is good to get a strong run on the board," he said.

"I wanted to make a statement, I waited for Potter to make a move and then I decided to make a bigger move and show my strength."

Clarke, Adams and Stevens - who train with the recently crowned Commonwealth Games Marathon Champion Jessica Stenson - recently returned home from a training camp and competition in the USA.

"Spending the last few months in America, it was disappointing (not to make a National Team), I was in unreal shape over there and got Covid at the wrong time and I didn't get an opportunity to show what I can really do," Clarke said.

"Now I am looking to get a string of wins over the Winter, starting with State Cross today, National Cross Country (August 27), Fitzy's 5, City-Bay - whatever race I can get into.

"I watched Isaac Heyne do that a bit last year, so it's my turn this year."

Max Stevens leading Adrian Potter and Matthew Clarke.

Adams was thrilled to win the State Title in what was her first Cross Country race of the season. 

"There has been a big focus on training, Track and Road races of late, but I felt really confident coming in today, and it was good to get the win with National Cross coming up," she said.

"It was good running in a mixed male and female race, as I could work on passing the runner in front of me or hang on the back of someone - I tried to emulate what it will be like at National Cross, when I have women around me and I need to make moves or bridge gaps.

"I am hoping to win Nationals, especially with such a big year coming up with the 2023 World Cross Country Championships (February 18, Bathurst), I want to be one of the main contenders for that team."

Adelaide Harriers' Cael Mulholland (26:02 8km) and United Collegian Tiana Cetta (23:08 6km) were the U20 Champions, while Saints' Jonathan Harris (19:34 6km) and Port Adelaide's Jessica McManus (15:12 4km) won the U18 events. 

2022 Women's U20 State Cross Country Champion Tiana Cetta.

Port Adelaide was strong in the younger age groups, with McManus, Oscar Pietsch (U16 4km, 13:27), Tessa Ebert (U16 4km, 14:32) and Louis Pietsch (U14 3km, 9:57) all claiming titles.

Isla Fahey of the Pembroke Athletics Club won the Women's U14 3km title in 10:54, while Western's Mikaela McCarthy won the Women's Para U16 3km in 20:29, and Timon Sideris of Hills winning the Men's Para 3km in 11:28.

In the O35 categories was Lisa Davis of Hills (34:33 8km) and Paul Mulholland (26:21 8km) winning the respective Female and Male Titles, while Adelaide Harrier Patricia Laird (43:37 8km) and Colin Ambrose (29:09 8km) claimed the O50 Titles.

Next up its the Ekiden Relays at Bonython Park on Saturday, August 13, ahead of the State Race Walking Championships on the same date at the Adelaide Harriers Athletics Club on South Terrace.

The Fitzy's 5 Fun Run and State 5km Road Championships will be held on Sunday, September 4 at North Adelaide's Uni Loop.

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