APS Old Collegians hold Dyson Relays around the iconic Tan track

A PLEASANT Saturday afternoon proved to be ideal for great racing as the APS Old Collegians held their annual Dyson Relay last week.

S49pp999 The Start of the Dyson Relay Picture: Supplied

A PLEASANT Saturday afternoon proved to be ideal for great racing as the APS Old Collegians held their annual Dyson Relay last week.

Each runner completed one lap of the Tan track, around the King’s Domain and Botanical Gardens.

In the men’s race, St Kevins sent its best runner, Alex Rowe, out first and he ran 11min 23sec to clock the fastest time for the day and give his team a commanding lead.

Haileybury was in second place with Old Wesley and Old Xaverians a minute further back.

St Kevins maintained its lead on the second lap, but Haileybury had narrowed the gap while Wesley pulled away from Old Xavs.

Cameron Gatt ran a fast third leg for Old Wesley (11min 37sec) to put the purple boys in second place, just behind St Kevin’s. Old Xavs passed Haileybury, which slipped back to fourth.

Old Xaverians’ fastest runner, Laurence Sorace, ran the fourth leg in 11min 52sec to put his team in the lead, just ahead of Old Wesley.

Haileybury went up to third place as St Kevins slipped back.

On the fifth leg, Kevin Craigie grabbed the lead back for Old Wesley, with an 11min 39sec, before Lachlan Aspinall ran strongly to give Old Wesley the victory.

Old Xaverians remained in second place ahead of Haileybury and St Kevins.

The women’s race was equally as exciting with several lead changes.

Sarah Lester was one of only two women to go under 14 minutes, with her 13min 44sec giving Old Scotch an early lead.

Haileybury’s 1 and 2 teams and Old Xavs were bunched together just under a minute behind, with Wesley further back.

Old Scotch kept its lead on the second lap while Haileybury 1 stayed in second.

Old Wesley closed the gap as Anna Kasapis ran 13min 49sec while Haileybury 2 slipped back and Old Xavs fell away to fifth.

On the third lap, Haileybury snatched the lead and Old Xavs surged to third place, just ahead of Wesley.

Old Xavs 2 got into the race and pushed Haileybury 2 back to sixth.

On the final lap, Haileybury 1 showed great consistency and won the race by more than a minute.

Brooke Williams ran 14min 08sec to put Old Xavs into second while Old Wesley stayed third as Old Scotch finishing fourth with Old Xaverians fifth.