Top prize for big race

THREE VICTORIAN training mates decided they wanted to travel to the first Wanganui Gift professional athletics meeting it was something different.
Today's Wanganui Gift starters Adam Burbridge, Chris Tuohy and Peter Dudkiewicz come from Melbourne and all are rated chances in the big race at the first VAL meeting in New Zealand and they decided to come to see what Wanganui was all about.
Unfortunately it appears former top New Zealand sprinter Chris Donaldson will not be here after suffering an injury while working at home this week, and this cuts down the strength of the top field.
That makes South Australian Keith Sheehy the backmarker on 3.25 metres considered a tight mark.
It takes a while to get used to the idea of handicap running, but Dudkiewicz is rated one of the really big chances of winning and he starts from 9m.
That's what this is all about. All athletes have been rated and handicapped over a period of time, the aim being (ideally) to get them all arriving at the finish at the same time.
Another top chance, Steve Landers (5.5m) comments: "I guess the most exciting thing about pro running is that no one really knows who is going to win."
"In amateurs, everyone has a good idea of the winner but due to the handicapping system and some runners playing the system, anyone could win on the day. It makes for some very close races."
Fellow Aussie Daniel Steinhauser (7.25m): "There are plenty of close and hard-fought races. There is rarely a whitewash in these major events as everyone is busting themselves to get the win. Not only that, but there is quite the carnival atmosphere when the crowds come out."
And what does Burbridge (5.25m) think?
"It will be a great experience. It sounded like a promising meet when it was first organised, good money and the running boys I train with were keen to go over."
"I train with Chris Tuohy and Peter Dudkiewicz, who are also competing, so we all said we will come over."
But Burbridge feels the Victorian sport could have been stronger.
"The meet hasn't really been backed from the Victorian runners point of view. I think the factors of cost, as well with athletes having their own agendas and not supporting the league. Four of the seven Victorian runners entered have come from our training squad. But hopefully we put on a good show and word of mouth gets out how good the event is and more runners come over next year."
He strongly pushes the spectator aspect of the meet: "The great thing about pro running is that anyone can win. If you're right on the day then anything can happen. And with the handicapping, we normally have close, exciting finishes."
"I'm sure it will be a great spectacle for the spectators. The good thing is that you have some of the better runners from Australia competing, who run from smaller handicaps, so it should be good quality running."
Two trophies have been made by Wanganui glass blower Katie Brown (Chronicle Glass).
They will go to the winner of the Peter Snell Mile (1600m), and to the coach of the winner of the Wanganui Gift.