Wellings wins Aussie title, Hills makes it an NSWIS one-two

NSWIS runner Eloise Wellings has won her third consecutive gold medal in the elite race at the City-Bay Fun Run in Adelaide, cleaning up the Australian Road Running Championship along the way.

It was fine list of competitors that lined up for the event, Wellings completing the 12-kilometre course in a time of 39 minutes, 7 seconds (39.07), Madeline Hills trailing her in for second in a time of 40 minutes, 21 seconds (40:21). The result wraps up what has been a stellar year for the NSWIS duo.

In the men’s race Victoria’s Brett Robinson was the winner as he faced a challenge from fellow Victorian Liam Adams.

It wasn’t an easy race to win for Wellings as challenging headwinds picked up along course throughout the race. The mother-of-one has had an incredible year that netted her ninth in the women’s 5000m and 10th in the women’s 10,000m at the Rio Olympics.

With no commitments until December’s Zatopek: 10 event, said she is now looking forward to downtime with her family.

“I’m stoked. I felt really good out there despite a huge headwind. If I had of known I was going to feel that good I probably would have planned to have a crack at the record. I’m pumped about the win, my third in a row, it’s a great way to end what’s been a fantastic season,” Wellings said.

“Now it’s time to switch off and relax though, reset for next season and next year. I’ll probably do a couple of road races in the next month or so but they’ll just be about participating. I’m going to run the Zatopek but until then I’ll be letting my hair down a bit.”

The second place result was equally pleasing for Hills, who added the silver medal at the Aussie road titles to the national crown she won in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, top eight finish at the Rio Olympics and career best results in both the 3000m steeplechase and 5000m.