Reigning champs return for 5km Frenzy

REIGNING champions Nathan Stoate and Katherine Dowie will be back on the Lar Birpa athletics track for Friday night’s running of the 5km Frenzy in Flora Hill.

The fifth edition of the Bendigo Harriers-run classic in conjuction with Athletics Bendigo is backed by A.L. Parker Electrical and Mulqueen Finance has drawn many athletes to the Retreat Road complex.

The Jack Davey trophy for leading Bendigo Region athlete in the Frenzy duels is also up for grabs.

A gun distance runner throughout the 1950s, Davey competed in the six-mile race at the 1954 Empire Games, now Commonwealth Games in Auckland.

At 96-years-young, Davey is likely to be trackside to watch the Frenzy action and present trophies.

The past two years it’s been Stoate who has won the 12 ½ lap showdown in times of 14:31 and 14:36 racing for Bendigo Harriers.

Last February it was Eureka’s Dowie who struck gold in the women’s open as Bendigo University’s Abbey Reid earned the Jack Davey trophy.

Some of the fastest runners in this year’s field include Alastair Christy, Ben Beischer, Ben Kelly, William Garbelotto, Logan Janetzki, Reece Edwards, Ben Ludbrook and Bailey Murzecki-Hince.

First two editions of the 5km Frenzy were won by University’s Andy Buchanan in 14:27 and a Bendigo Centre record time of 14:10.

Just months after racing in the Marathon at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Buchanan became the fastest marathon runner in Australia’s history in Valencia.

Added incentive for athletes in the Frenzy action will be $100 for any Bendigo Centre record being broken across any age group.

The 5km Frenzy has drawn some top competitors from other sporting pursuits.

Among those racing will be Darren Lapthorne, the Australian road cycling champion of 2007, and Hamish Morcom, a multiple premiership player with Golden Square and now senior coach of Huntly Football Netball Club.

The 5km Frenzy which will involve graded 5km races starts at 5pm and will include the Bendigo Little Athletics 800m for under-14s.

Other sponsors of the event are The Pipe Doctor, Bicknell’s Intersport, City of Greater Bendigo, and Breach Apparel.

It’s free entry for spectators.