The second year of the Kep Ultra saw 26 competitors make it to the start line in Northam for either a 75km or 100km race to Mundaring Weir along the Kep Track. The Kep track mainly follows the old Eastern Railway line that used to connect Perth with Kalgoorlie along the Mundaring Pipeline. Given the historical significance of the track, it is very apt the race is run on Western Australia’s Foundation Day long weekend in early June.
After an unofficial run by 12 ultra runners in 2009, the 2010 race was sanctioned by AURA after race organisers gained official approval for the event from local authorities, the Department of Environment and Conservation and The National Trust. Official status saw a significantly larger field enter the event in 2010.
2009 winner Alex Stuart was back to defend his 100km crown, with emerging Australian 12 hour and 24 hour track runner Dave Kennedy, keen to improve on last year’s second place. Three women had entered the 100km event including Perth Hills Group runner Kate Sommerville, as well as seasoned triathletes Julie Saunders and Sarah Thompson.
Alex Stuart at the finish
The 75km field included Chris Wilson who had flown in from Victoria especially for the race, as well as 14 West Australians, keen to prove themselves on the Kep course.
The first 18km section to checkpoint 1 at Clackline was dominated by Alex Stuart, until he suffered from a navigation issue, and lost 15 minutes. This meant Stephane Benayoun was the first 100km competitor to check in, followed by Guy Moore and Tim Eva who came in with Dave Kennedy. Kennedy had missed the start and was making his way up through the field.
Guy Moore and Stephane Benayoun
Section 2 from Clackline to Wooroloo was the defining stage of the men’s 100km race, with Stuart keen to make up for lost time. Over the 24km stage he gave Benayoun a 6 minute start at Clackline, and by Wooroloo had opened up a 24 minute lead. Despite losing another 15 minutes when again going off course near Mt Helena, Stuart dominated the rest of the race and was an easy winner by 1 hour and 11 minutes at the finish at Mundaring Weir in a time of 9 hours and 11 minutes….over half an hour faster than his 2009 time. Dave Kennedy, still recovering from his efforts at the Coburg 24 hour race less than 2 months ago, was second, with Stephane Benayoun and Guy Moore sharing third place.
In the 100km womens race, Julie Saunders led the field comfortably until the 60km mark at Mt Helena, where she was 25 minutes ahead of Kate Sommerville and Sarah Thompson. On the section through John Forrest National Park to checkpoint 4 at Bellevue, Sommerville started reeling in the two time Kona Hawaii Ironman Saunders, and had reduced the lead to just 14 minutes with 22km to go. The last section from Bellevue includes the long 14km climb up hill to Mundaring. A climb tough enough under normal conditions, but a real test of endurance after having just run 80km. This hill is Sommerville’s home ground, and she runs it nearly every weekend with her hills running group. She used her local knowledge to her advantage, passing Saunders in the darkness of early evening with headlamps blazing. At the finish, Kate Sommerville recorded a time of 12 hours and 5 minutes, just 6 minutes ahead of Julie Saunders.
Kate Sommerville at Wooroloo
The 75km event was incredibly even for the first 42km run from Northam to Wooroloo, with Victorian Chris Wilson, and West Australians Jeff Gray and Mark O’Keeffe all covering the marathon distance in 3 hours 52 minutes. In fourth place overall, and first female was young ultra rookie Leah Glass.
At Mt Helena, Wilson and O’Keeffe were still battling for first place, however O’Keeffe suffered from leg cramps, and lost 5 minutes to Wilson as he had his muscles massaged by aid station volunteers.
On the final leg to Mundaring Weir, Wilson managed to open up a handy lead, however ran into trouble when he missed the turn to the finish line at the Perth Hills National Park Centre campsite, and ended up at the Mundaring Weir Hotel. Luckily his lead was large enough to allow him to back track, and still win the race in a handy time of 7 hours and 27 minutes. Mark O’Keeffe beat off the cramps to finish second, with Leah Glass finishing third overall and winning the women’s 75km event in 7 hours and 44 minutes. Alice Clark was second, with Emma Firth third.
Out of 26 starters, 23 finished either the 100km or 75km event. And to prove that ultra running isn’t just for the young and fit, but also for the older and fit, Roy Hart, Phil Dufty and Lui Cecotti, all aged 60 plus all finished the 75km race in under 10 hours.
Feedback from competitors has been resoundingly positive, with Chris Wilson saying he will be leading an Eastern States invasion when he returns to defend his 75km title in 2011.
View race photos here and also here. |
Leah Glass winner of the 75km Ultra at the finish line
Dave Kennedy at Mt Helena
Winner of the 75km Chris Wilson (Right) with Mark O'Keeffe
Alex Stuart at Clackline
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