Watson blitzes Surf Coast Century

THE Surf Coast Century was held on Saturday with a record number of participants taking part in the ultra-marathon.

Ash Watson was comfortably the quickest runner of the day. He fulfilled his ambition to run a sub-eight-hour race by completing the 100 kilometre course in seven hours, 57 minutes and nine seconds.

Watson said he was delighted with how his race went.

“This year went pretty perfect, to be honest. I sort of had everything on my side.

“I didn’t go through too many ups and downs like I did last year, and the weather was actually perfect.”

No other individual finished within an hour of Watson’s time.

Sarah Ludowici set the fastest women’s time, completing the race in 10 hours, eight minutes and five seconds, setting an average pace of just over six minutes per kilometre.

Ian Grant and Lyn Robertson were the quickest over 60 male and female runners to complete the 100 kilometre solo event.

There were also team events and a 50-kilometre race, with about 1,300 people participating in the Surf Coast Century in total.

The 50 kilometre race was run across the more difficult second half of the 100 kilometre route.

Damien Angus was the fastest male runner in this category, finishing in just over four hours and 16 minutes. Belinda Ralph was the fastest female runner, finishing the course in four hours, 38 minutes and eleven seconds.

One hundred and sixty teams also ran the 100 kilometre race, with team The Happy Runner Torquay finishing first.

The race continued till late in the night, with the cut-off at 3am on Sunday morning, with the solo runners having set off before 8am on Saturday.

For more information and results, head to surfcoastcentury.com.au.