Athletes chase 5km Frenzy riches

ATHLETES from near and far will race in the 5km Frenzy at Bendigo’s regional track in Flora Hill on 9 February.

It’s the fourth running of the classic organised by Bendigo Harriers Athletics Club at the Retreat Road complex.

This year’s edition will incorporate the Jack Davey Championship for the elite men’s and women’s fields.

One of Bendigo’s finest athletes, Davey was fourth in the six-mile race at the 1950 Empire Games, now Commonwealth Games, in Auckland.

From the mid-40s to mid-50s, Davey was the one, three and five mile titleholder in Bendigo on many occasions.

A founding member of the Bendigo Sportsmen’s Association, Davey is also in the Bendigo Sports Star of the Year Basil Ashman Hall of Fame.

A big night of racing of which A.L. Parker Electrical is major sponsor starts at 5pm and will include Athletics Bendigo’s age group championships.

“We’re all about supporting and getting involved in our community,” Adam Parker said of the business backing many athletics events.

There will be 1000-metre races for under-14 and open age categories.

A series of seeded races will be followed by the 5km showdowns for elite men and women.

Spectators will be able to take up a vantage point in lane four.

Previous winners of the 5km Frenzy have been 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games runner and Bendigo University’s own Andy Buchanan in 2021 and 2022.

Last year’s race was won by Bendigo Harriers’ Nathan Stoate.

Ellie Pashley and Sarah Klein have been the women’s champions.