MATTHEW Cox may need to consider switching from steeplechase to mountain running after taking out the 2013 Great Volcanic Mountain Challenge yesterday.
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Not only did the Sydney athlete celebrate victory in his first mountain running event, he smashed the course record.
Cox finished the 11km event in 47 minutes and 40 seconds, almost a full three minutes faster than the previous record set by Dural’s Robin Whiteley in 2011 (50:36).
Cox was probably the most surprised by his victory.
“This is my first time doing a mountain run. I run track normally,” Cox explained.
“The City2Surf is the hilliest run I’ve done before and that’s nothing on this.”
The Moorebank runner said he knew yesterday’s race would be tough but he was able to use his speed well on the fire trails.
He was able to hang onto his lead and beat the Australian Mountain Running champion, Jordan Harries, by 19 seconds (47:59).
“I did not expect to beat him,” Cox said.
The winner admitted he was finding the going tough at the final climb.
“I was getting pretty big lactic acid at the end,” he said.
“I was very relieved [to finish]. It was nice for it to be over. I really struggled up that last hill. When you win a race it’s always a good feeling.”
Alex Hutchinson finished third in 51:52 and former race record holder Whiteley stopped the clock in 51:52.
Canada’s Lauren King took out the women’s race in 59:20.
She was more than a minute ahead of runner-up and birthday girl Joanne Brischetto (60:42) from Woodford.
Wollongong’s Heather Sinclair (61:58) finished third.
Cox said he would try to defend his title in 2014 but it would depend on dates.
His next event is the national steeplechase championships in April.
