Huge interstate wins from Stenson, Adams and Heyne

South Australian runners Jessica Stenson, Caitlin Adams and Isaac Heyne have registered wins at key interstate races over the past fortnight.

Dual Olympian and Commonwealth Games medallist, Stenson (nee Trengove), ran the fourth fastest marathon by an Australian woman in the October 17 Perth Marathon, before her Team Tempo teammates Heyne and Adams won their respective races at the Burnie Ten last Sunday.

Jess Stenson (nee Trengove) crossing the line in Perth.

PERTH MARATHON

In what was her first marathon in three years, and first since giving birth to son Billy in late 2019, Stenson ran a personal best time of 2:25:13.

“Happiness is the overriding emotion,” she told Athletics SA.

“It’s been such a long journey of anticipation and excitement and having to re-adjust my plans and goals because of race cancellations and injury, so just getting to the start line was a huge success, and anything after that was a bonus.

“It was a nice way to approach a race – being grateful to be there and ready to embrace the challenge.”

Stenson also thanked fellow Team Tempo teammate and Tokyo Olympian Matt Clarke for pacing her race for 32km, which helped her maintain her target pace of 3:25 minutes per/km.

“I felt composed, free and happy to be there,” she said.

“When I finished I didn’t know any of the stats (fourth fastest marathon by an Australian woman), but I knew that it was about 2:25:00 and I was exhausted, but so relieved.”

Stenson’s initial plan was to head overseas to make her return to marathon running, before settling on the Melbourne Marathon, which was eventually postponed until December.

Not wanting to risk being in quarantine over Christmas, Stenson decided to once again change tactics and focus on Perth.

"It was a challenging course and the wind was tough, but it was so good to be back out there," she said. 

Stenson said her decision to start a family was never the end of her running career.

“I always had the hope to return to running at the highest level and I made that clear from the get-go,” she said.

“Motherhood and family will always be my priority, and I have such a strong support network behind me, from my family to my coaches and sponsors.

“I would love to make another Olympic team, but I am not sure what my next couple of years will bring.”

Jess Stenson’s message to Mum’s who want to stay fit post-pregnancy:

“Don’t limit your goals and don’t be afraid to dream big,” she said.

“Focus on progress, whatever your doing try to be a little bit stronger, mentally and physically, each day because you never know where that may leave you.

“Ultimately, it is about being happy and enjoying what you are doing – so find an activity that makes you happy and enjoy that progress.”

Team Tempo Coach and SA Performance Coach Adam Didyk was proud of Stenson's performance in Perth.

"This was an opportunity to express the work that she has done since giving birth and to prove to herself that she could do it," he said.

"Jess is a special character, no matter where we get her to with preparation she will take it to the next level when she races. Certainly in a marathon, she has the personality and emotional fortitude to manage those late, difficult stages of a marathon and that's what she did." 

BURNIE 10

After winning the State 5km Road Championship in Adelaide last month, both Heyne and Adams travelled to Tasmania with confidence in their form and preparation.

The 21-year-old Heyne ran a 29:24 10km to hold off a strong field, which included Queensland’s Jack Bruce (second place, 29:26), Olympian Ryan Gregson (29:33) and South Australians Dan Canala (29:41) and Max Stevens (29:48).

“With that field, I wasn’t expecting to win, but it was nice that my training and race plan came together to produce that performance,” he said.

“It just confirms that I can run those longer distances (often running 1500m and 5km distances) and that I can match it with those guys – as an athlete you have that ‘impostor syndrome’ so it’s nice that at my best I can match it with them.

Isaac Heyne winning the Burnie 10 ahead of Jack Bruce. Photo courtesy Burnie 10

Heyne said it was a tough course, whicih wasn't made any easier by the strong breeze.

“It was a slow and tactical race early and with the headwind nobody wanted to make too much of a move in the early stages," he said.

"But then the pace picked up at the 6km mark and with 2km to go Jack Bruce and I put the foot down and I held on for as long as I could.

“I was hurting in the last 1km and just wanted to hang onto second place, but with 100m to go I realised I was still in it and decided to throw the kitchen sink at it and it came off.”

Didyk said it was an impressive race from Heyne.

"It was a tough last km for Isaac, he was hurting and it was an up hill finish, so for him to hold tough, answer his doubts and edge out Jack is exciting," he said.

"It was great to see his performance maturity stand out and come away with the win - it's one thing to be capable of it, and another thing to actually do it." 

Adams also considered herself an underdog heading to Burnie, with the likes of SA’s Tokyo Olympian Isobel Batt-Doyle (32:54) and Tasmania’s Milly Clark (33:02) making up the top three places.

Battling the tough, windy conditions, Adams bolted away at the 8km mark and crossed the line first in 32:31.

“I’m stoked,” she said.

“I felt fit and confident heading in and I wanted to give myself every chance to win, but I was respecting the distance and other competitors as well.

“As soon as I made that move with 2km to go I felt good and knew that the race was mine, I was so excited to cross the finish line.

“I couldn’t help but smile as it was my first big interstate race that had a few key athletes in it, it was a big moment in my career.”

Caitlin Adams

Adams said it was a thrill to win the Burnie 10 on the same day as her housemate, Heyne, despite not knowing for several minutes that Team Tempo had completed the double win.

“That was awesome,” she said.

“I didn’t know until about five minutes after the finish that Isaac had won.

"I had crossed the line and he (Heyne) was first there so I hugged him, and straight away found some other friends who came down to Tassie, and then I got swept up by Channel 7, photographers and a few reporters who wanted interviews - it was chaotic.

“I was caught up in my own world, and it wasn’t until I chatted to Isaac and asked him who won, and he said ‘me’, so I felt a bit self-absorbed, but it was so exciting to share the win with him.

“Two winners from not only the same State, but the same house.”

Didyk said this was a big win for Adams' confidence.

"She knocked off some really good runners, including Olympians in this race, and while she hasn't been on that stage herself this will hopefully give her the belief that it (Olympics) is a step she can take in the future, and that is always important with SA athletes," he said.

"You need to have that belief that you can get there and are capable, and we have improved that in recent years in SA and we are starting to see some good results.

"These results show that the conditioning for Isaac and Caitlin has been effective over the winter and we hope there is a lot to come."

STATE 10,000m CHAMPIONSHIPS

Athletics SA also held its State 10,000m Championships last Sunday (October 24) at the SA Athletics Stadium.

The event was split into two heats, with the Open Women, Over 35 Women, Over 35 Men, Over 50 Women, Over 50 Men and Para Men taking off in the 8am race, while the Open Men and Under 20 Men hit the track at 9am.

Riley Cocks claimed the State 10,000m Open Men’s Championship title and Claire Hodgart the Open Women’s honours, while, Timon Sideris secured the Para Men’s State title, Alison Sorell the O35 Women, Stephen Cavanagh the O35 Men, Jennifer Robertson the O50 Women, Bennett Maxwell the O50 Men and Thomas Dowd the U20 Men.

See all the results from Sunday's State 10,000m here

See all the photographs here

Initially entering the race to help his brother, Jacob, to a personal best, R. Cocks took out the State 10,000m Open Men’s Championship in a time of 29:57.09, ahead of Harrison Bagley (31:05.99) and Jack Murphy (32:37.98).

R. and J. Cocks hit the lead from the gun and looked strong as they surged half a lap clear of the chasing pack of Aaron Nitschke, Tom Lancaster, Mitchell Reinhard and Bagley.

J. Cocks unfortunately pulled out of the race just after the 10-lap mark and R. Cocks assumed the sole lead, going on to claim the title.

“Jacob was in good shape heading into the race so we thought he could have a crack at his PB, but he wasn’t feeling too good ahead of the race so unfortunately he couldn’t finish,” R. Cocks said.

“I was running even splits to get him across the line, but when he pulled out, I was still feeling good so I kicked it down and came away with a good hit out.”

He said it was a surprise to run a sub-30-minute 10,000m, given that he’s just four weeks back from a pelvic injury.

“I felt really good out there,” R. Cocks said.

“I have only just got back into running, following my injury, so to get a State title under the belt, it feels good.”

After already claiming this year’s 10,000m Cross Country State title (in July) Claire Hodgart, continued her good long distance form with a 41:07.64 effort to win the title.

“It feels good (to get the title), but I am knackered after that race as it is such a gruelling and mentally challenging event,” she said.

“I wasn’t sure if I was going to get to the start line as my preparation hasn’t been fantastic, I have been on Uni placement so my running has taken a back seat at the moment.

“I just went out there and had fun, but I went out there and ran a bit fast early and I certainly paid for it at the end.”

Sophie Hlipala ran a strong 38:11.23, but entered as an exhibition runner, which meant she couldn’t be crowned State Champion.

Riley, 958, and Jacob Cocks running in the State 10,000m Championships on Sunday.