Sport
17 October, 2023
Inaugural Gift draws crowds
MELBOURNE athletes Endale Mekonnen and Jennifer King have taken out the inaugural Cobden Gift.
MELBOURNE athletes Endale Mekonnen and Jennifer King have taken out the inaugural Cobden Gift.
Despite the often wet and windy conditions, an enthusiastic crowd gathered to watch the pair win the men’s and women’s 100m sprints at Cobden Recreation Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
In a thrilling sprint, Mekonnen won the 100m Men’s Gift in an adjusted time of 10.739 seconds.
Second place went to Jackson Bennett in a time of 10.808, with Michael Moschou third in 10.813.
Jennifer King won the 100m Women’s Gift in an adjusted time of 11.861, ahead of second-placed Grace Carter (11.969) with Alyssa Neale third in 11.983.
One of the longest races on the program, the 1600m Open event, was won by Charlie Sutherland in a time of 254.356.
Second place went to Nicholas O’Connor, while Anna Kasapis finished third.
The 800m Masters (45 plus) was won by Lynn Gunning in 120.933, with Greg Whitecross a close second and Greg Denner third.
The 300m Masters was won by Jamie Johns followed by Greg Denner in second and Gary Blake third.
In the 100m Masters, Sonya Pollard took the honours, with David Griffin finishing in second and Tim Rosen in third.
The 300m men’s race was won by Lachlan Milligan in a time of 35.016, followed by Nicholas Antonino in second and Aidan Green third.
The 300m women’s race was won by Amber Van eede in a time of 40.176, closely followed by Ida Laherty in second and Halle Martin third.
The 70m sprint was won by Jennifer King, closely followed by Michael Moschou in second and Aaron Peter-budge third.
The junior events were also hotly contested, with strong fields entered in each category.
Zane Eddleston took out the final of the 100m under 18 mixed in a time of 11.15, with Sophie Burrows second and Patrick Meade third.
The 100m under 14 mixed was won by James Moore in a time of 12.483, closely followed by Athena Chivell in second and Macey Hansen third.
