Sally Gibbs was dominant in winning the main women's race at the Tauranga Open Cross Country at Waipuna Park on Saturday.
Gibbs, who qualifies for the Masters Women's 50 plus age group, dominated the 4060m race from the front, recording her fastest time on the course in perfect conditions. Gibbsturned 50 on Wednesday and is targeting the Gold Coast Marathon in July. She ran smoothly to record 14 minutes 52 seconds to lead home the New Zealand Mountain Race champion Helen Rountree of Hamilton City Hawks, who recorded 15m 29s.
Rountree's club mate Tim Stewart put up the most competitive race in the Senior Men's 8060m race with Tauranga Ramblers Ben Ruthe keeping Stewart up to his work. Both runners shared much of the pace for the first half with Stewart making a handy break in the final 2km.
Ruthe was returning to racing with limited training but kept the first year Senior Stewart up to his work and was ready to pounce if Stewart faltered. However it was Stewart across the line first in 27m 14s with Ruthe second in 27m 18s.
Tauranga Ramblers' Kyle MacDonald was third in 27m 39s, with twin Iain Macdonald fourth in 28m 10s. Kyle lost the sole of one running shoe along with the spikes early into the second lap on the bottom hurdle so he did well to keep the pace on with uneven footing.
Cory Whiting, Hamilton City Hawks, was fifth in 28m 50s, Angus Bell from Tauranga Ramblers was sixth in 29m 5s while his team mate Chris Morrissey was first Masters Man 35 plus home, finishing seventh in 29m 25s. Colin Earwaker from Lake City was first Masters Man 50 plus.
Grace Ritchie won the Girls 14 race in 11m 47s, ahead of Tauranga Girls' College pair Kaylee Mudgway (11m 55s) and Erin Conway (11m 57s).
Selwyn Ridge won the schools competition with Tauranga Girls' College second, Tauranga Intermediate third and Te Puke Intermediate fourth.
Josh Stewart from Tauranga Intermediate won the Boys 14 race over 2950m with Otumoetai Intermediate's Hamish McDrury second and his brother Patrick McDrury third.
The Boys 12 division was won by Cooper Newton from Tauranga Intermediate, with Corban Crowther from Tauranga Primary second and Otumoetai Intermediate's Josh Tisch third. In the Girls 12 race, Krystal-Anne Hawtin from Te Puke Intermediate won, with team mate Daesha Harris third.
The Boys 10 race was won by Ben Rodger from Selwyn Ridge, with team mate Jacob Eberlain second and Layton Watkins from Greenpark third.
