The move was made due to fears over the safety of joggers brought about by the hazard reduction burns being carried out by the Rural Fire Service on Scenic Hill last Saturday.

Continued technical issues, a loose dog and a car accident adjacent to the course provided many headaches for officials delaying the race start by several minutes.

The track is longer than the regular Hotfoot course but always faster by not having rocks and steep hills to contend with so times were lower this week.

The senior women dominated the short course placings with Kate Morshead continuing her excellent race two form to finish third in 16.02 behind Melanie Gill in second (20.26) and race winner Dona Jackson (19.06). 

Mia Stockwell showed consistency to finish in fourth place in 16:44 ahead of a tight battle for fifth eventually taken by Maggie Croce (17.16), two seconds ahead of Melissa Bortolin (20.33).

Morshead now holds the overall lead in the short course competition albeit by a single point over Isabella Salmon. Salmon was eighth this week but her time of 14:34 was best of the day.

Anthony Trefilo broke a very long podium drought as he cruised to victory in the long course. Trefilo (27:59) worked hard in the heat to build a sizeable lead over the second placed Sharon Careri (29.55) followed by Michael Johns (28.11) who was certainly fresher after an eight-month spell.

Roy Binks couldn’t do enough to hold off the fast finishing Johns and claimed his third consecutive fourth place in 26.44 ahead of Julie Duncan (28.35) and Adrian Shields (31.12).

Tony Gullo claimed seventh place and his hold on the competition lead, but Binks along with the ever-present Adam Johnson are still very much in contention with Johnson’s time of 24.19 being the fastest.

The joggers meet every Saturday at the green water tower opposite Pioneer Park at 5.30pm and joggers are encouraged to arrive early to register. 

For more information and a full list of results visit www.griffithferals.org.au