Sydney 10: Weightman shatters records

1 May 2022

Sydney 10: Weightman shatters records

In glorious running conditions the 2022 Sydney10 saw record fields and performances. In the women’s, four-time Olympian Lisa Weightman, ran the fastest women’s 10km road time ever in Australia, while in the men’s there was a breakthrough and surprise for Brisbane’s Kieren Perkins.

WOMEN 10KM

In her last race, eight months ago, Lisa Weightman placed a magnificent 26th. In Sydney this morning, Lisa Weightman just carried on from her last race, her fourth Olympic marathon eight months ago in Japan, with a stunning 31:20 10km time. It fell just three seconds short of the Australian record set by Benita Willis in Manchester in 2006, however it was the fastest time ever on Australian soil. It sliced 30 seconds from Lisa’s previous best.

“I’m very pleased and especially after a break and reset post-Olympic Games,” she said. “I would have been happy to get anything with a 31 in-front of it, but to get that close to Benita national record is great.”

Lisa setup the performance on the first lap.

“I passed 5km in 15:30, a PB, and was feeling good and knew I was on for a good run.”

She finished in 32:20, ahead of a tremendous run by Leanne Pompeani clocking 31:43.

The result confirmed some training adjustment are working for Lisa.

“I felt strong from the work I done on the Melbourne university track with the boys.”

Secord placed Leanne Pompeani also entered the record books. Her time of 31:43, was a 43 seconds PB and was the third fastest in Australian history.

She ran hard from the gun and was trailing Lisa.

“After passing 5km in about 15:30, Lisa started to put the foot down and I knew I couldn’t go with that pace,” said Leanne.

“Towards the end, I was definitely feeling it, like you want to stop, but knew I was on for a PB so pushed on. I had ‘banked’ time early as I had run quicker than expected.”

The battle between NSW-based pair of Aynslee van Graan and Jess Noble was terrific. For much of the race Aynslee held the lead, but Jess was able to pass her in the last kilometres to take third in 33:31, from Aynslee with 33:36.

Both claimed satisfying PB. For Jess it removed 80 seconds from her previous best and for Aynslee 16 seconds.

Jess, a fourth-year physiotherapist from Newcastle was very happy.

“I felt I had the potential to run that time,” she said.

“I felt good in the race, except for a 4-5km patch.”

Jess was watching Aynslee closely, knowing she was a threat.

“I could see her most of the way, she is super quick.”

It has been a tremendous 12 months of progress for Jess which she puts down to ‘such a good and positive training group’ under coach Ben Toomey.

But as Jess is still so young, still 20, it does raise the question of how far can she go in the sport?

“I’m not one to think too far ahead,” she said. “I never thought I could run these times.”

Aynslee van Graan only arrived back in Australia from South Africa on Thursday morning after travelling home to see family and friends.

The women claimed the following places on the event’s all-time list: Lisa Weightman #1, Leanne Pompeani #2, Jess Noble #24 and Aynslee van Graan #28.

MEN 10KM

There was a surprise in the men’s 10km with Brisbane’s Kieren Perkins, 29, continuing his amazing rise over the last couple of years. He destroyed his PB clocking 28:57 to destroy his previous best mark of 29:29 set at Launceston in December. Just four years ago he was a 34-35 minute 10km athlete, but under the coaching of Bert Squad led by Peter Bracken, has had enjoyed an amazing rise in the last few years. He has also received some help with his track sessions from Jayden Russ, which assisted him under 14 minutes in the national 5000m championship.

“I shocked myself,” is how Kieren described his performance. “I felt good early and ran with Jacob Cocks (from SA) for 2-4 km, then put my foot down and pull away.”

After he had broken away, defending champion, who had not run for a few months, Kieren Tall was the only remaining danger.

“I felt he (Tall) was there and if I knew if gave him a sniff he could be a problem, so I kept the pressure on.”

“With 2km to go I kicked away. I didn’t want him near with 400m to go should he have I kick.

“I felt strong mentally and physically and felt I could keep pushing throughout.”

Kieren also felt the cool weather in Sydney assisted him.

Can he explain his improvement over the last few years?

“I think taking athletics more seriously and a new squad and positive culture.”

Kieren is an Army logistics officer and has he is full-time runs around 5am daily. No surprise he has little trouble with the six monthly 2.4km Army fitness test.

Defending champion Kieren Tall (Run Crew), was returning to racing and pleased with his second place in 29:16.

“It was better than I expected,” he said. He was a little conservative early ‘so I wouldn’t blow up’.

Next for Kieren is a big training block ahead of concentrating on some road races later in the year.

Third was Queensland’s Liam Boudin in a one second PB time of 29:21, holding off SA’s Riley Cocks (29:25) and Bendigo’s Nathan Stoate (29:30).

The men claimed the following places on the event’s all-time list: Kieren Perkins =#2, Liam Boudin #8, Jacob Cocks #11, Nathan Stoate #13.

Results: https://resultscui.active.com/events/2022Sydney10

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Winners of the 10km Lisa Weightman and Kieren Perkins