A hot and sunny day greeted joggers for the first run of summer in race five of the Hotfoot competition on Saturday.
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While the temperature was at the higher end of the scale, the runners at the front end of the short course were the ones really bringing the heat.
Kate Morshead turned into the home straight with Conner Bourke hot on her heels as a battle for first place ensued.
Ultimately, neither could be split.
The pair crossed the finish line in a dead heat to share line honours.
Bourke’s 14:11 was best of the day and second fastest of the competition.
Gerry Wilcox did his best to avoid the battle and was happy to secure third place in 17:52.
Wilcox finished ahead of Mia Stockwell who put in another consistent run to claim her fourth top five finish of this year’s Hotfoot competition.
The trio of Morshead, Wilcox and Stockwell are all still in contention to take the trophy with two races remaining.
Their only threat at the moment is Isabella Salmon who retained overall second with her finish in eighth place.
Salmon’s time of 16:20 was slightly off her best but it’s likely part of a wider strategy that saw her claim the Hotfoot title in 2015.
Fastest female was Nicole Restagno who completed the journey in 16:05 in a tie with Salmon for eighth.
The long course produced generally slower times in the heat with the exception of Mark Andreazza.
Andreazza slashed close to a minute off his best time and claimed first place with some creative navigating in a time of 25:51.
Michael Johns continues his return to form securing second place in a time of 28:54 ahead of Adriaan Shields (32:20).
Newcomer Matthew Watson grabbed back-to-back fourth places in 29:40 ahead of Roy Binks in fifth.
Binks has yet to finish outside of the top 10 this competition.
The consistency sees Binks gradually grinding down Adam Johnson’s lead which now stands at a mere five points.
Johnson was ninth in 25:44, a time well off what he expects from himself, behind Aiden Fattore who posted the day’s best time of 24:32.
Teresa Burgess was quickest of the ladies in 32:44.
The joggers meet every Saturday at the green water tower opposite Pioneer Park at 5.30pm.
Joggers are encouraged to arrive early to register.
Anyone looking for more information and a full list of results can visit www.griffithferals.org.au.