Dent, Tamsett favourites for adidas Sydney:10
Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon champion Martin Dent and City to Surf winner Lara Tamsett are the favourites for Saturday’s adidas Sydney:10 at Sydney Olympic Park.
Launched by Athletics NSW four years ago out of a desire to provide runners of all abilities with an accurate, flat and fast course over the classic 10km distance in a central Sydney location, the adidas Sydney:10 has quickly gained a reputation for being one of the best events on the Sydney running calendar.
“We are very proud to have created an event which is growing from year to year and providing opportunities for runners from the elite to the casual jogger to enjoy the Sydney Olympic Park precinct,” said Greg Meagher, Chief Executive of Athletics NSW.
“With the strong partnership we enjoy with adidas and the Sydney Olympic Park Authority we hope to build on the success of the event again this year and into the future.”
Dent, 32, and Tamsett, 22, are expected to lead home a field of over a thousand runners, finishing in Cathy Freeman Park adjacent to Sydney’s Olympic cauldron. Both are seasoned competitors on the road and will challenge the existing course records of 29:45 and 33:41 respectively.
"Training has been going really well. I have been improving every week and I am now getting back to my best,” said Dent.
“I feel I am ready to run fast, but I am not really sure exactly how fast. If the conditions are good I will be having a crack at a quick race.”
For Tamsett pursuing success in road races has added significance given her desire to eventually step up to the marathon distance, and in light of her difficult decision to withdraw from the Australian team for the World University Games in order to defend her City to Surf title.
“I love road racing. Not only is it the support from the crowds but often you have men in the race. When you don’t have the deepest fields in Australian women’s running, road races provide me with people to target, people to sit on, people to chase,” Tamsett said.
“It was a tough decision to choose the City to Surf over the World University Games because I love representing Australia and travelling, but the City to Surf did a lot for my running career last year, so it will be fantastic to come back as the defending champion and race in front of all of my friends and family again.”
Challenging for line honours at the head of the field will be former winner Scott Westcott, who has represented Australia in the marathon at the Commonwealth Games and world championships; member of the R4YL adirunner program, Tim Rowe; and Australian junior representatives Harry Summers, Kevin Batt and Hugh Williams. In the women’s event, Tamsett’s closest challenge is expected to come from Queensland’s world cross country representative and R4YL adirunner Tamara Carvolth and the ACTs Sarah McRae.
The adidas Sydney:10 also incorporates the NSW Road Championships, with registered members of Athletics NSW eligible for state championship medals.
Entries for the adidas Sydney:10 will be taken on the day of the event, closing at 7:00am (event starts at 7:45am). Further information is available at www.sydney10.com.au.
As an ongoing partner of the adidas Sydney:10, adidas and The Sydney Running Centre are proud to offer Sydney:10 competitors up to 15% off adidas technical footwear on race day. Visit the Sydney Running Centre marquee and the staff will help you find the shoe that’s right for you for you. Don't miss out on this special offer, only available at the adidas Sydney:10!
Click here to have a look at the adidas shoe range www.adidas.com/running, or follow adidas on Facebook www.facebook.com/adidasrunning
