The W.R. Somerford Marathon for 2007-08 has been run and won, with Ben Carrick putting in a dominant performance to take the title.
Despite the early start on Sunday morning, it was a hot day for runners on the course in one of the club's oldest events.
Last year's winner Jono Stock wasn't there to defend his title, having moved to Sydney this year. With no clear favourite, pre-race talk centred mainly around Simon Huitenga and Ben Carrick. No one was prepared to write off eleven-time winner Ken Tomczak, while seven-times champion Andrew Walker was returning to the race for the first time in over fifteen years. Add Greg Mickle to the field, and we had the winner of twenty-one out of the last twenty-five Somerford Marathons competing.
Following the opening swim and wade legs, unsurprisingly it was Ben and Simon who emerged from the water at the head of the pack and began the long run to the north.
Almost twenty minutes later Ben returned with a commanding lead, and looking strong as he passed the clubrooms and embarked on the second half of the course through the southern sandhills.
Some distance behind, Simon came through along with Josh Walker, and behind them Andrew Walker and Greg Mickle in a tight tussle of the veterans. Ken Tomczak followed, running well and heading toward the part of the course he regularly dominates.
Ken soon moved into fourth place and had Simon and Josh in his sights when they gave him a free kick by taking a wrong turn and running further than they had to. Ken met them as they rejoined the part of the course they should have been on all along, and claimed second position.
There was no catching Ben Carrick, however, who continued to run strongly all the way back to the finish line, finishing more than two minutes in front. Ken crossed the line second. Josh Walker was next through, just ahead of his uncle Andrew, while Simon Huitenga faded to fifth.
| Finishers* | |||
| First | Ben Carrick | 36:11 | |
| Second | Ken Tomczak | 38:35 | |
| Third | Josh Walker | 38:55 | |
| Andrew Walker | 39:18 | ||
| Simon Huitenga | 40:28 | ||
| Greg Mickle | 44:17 | ||
| Stephen Toth | 44:44 | ||
| First Female | Estelle Doney | 48:37 | |
| Jesse George | 48:37 | ||
| First U/15 | Zac Walker | 48:37 | |
| Duncan Jacob | 49:04 | ||
| Phoebe George | 59:45 | ||
| Jess Cohen | 1:00:12 | ||
| Chantell Green | 1:07:56 | ||
| * all placings are subject to members completing patrol and other membership requirements | |||
Race Video
