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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Max McKinney

Young, Wilson take honours as Fernleigh 15 returns after COVID-enforced hiatus

Hyewon Wilson crosses the finish line at Belmont. Picture by Lee Piggott
Runners pass through the old railway tunnel on the Fernleigh Track. Picture by Lee Piggott
Picture by Lee Piggott
Picture by Lee Piggott
Picture by Lee Piggott

LUKE Young and Hyewon Wilson were the first man and woman to finish the Fernleigh 15 as the running event returned for the first time since COVID on Sunday.

After a two-year hiatus, the popular run was back on track for the ninth time along the rail trail between Adamstown and Belmont. Close to 800 people entered in the main 15-kilometre event.

In the overall male category, Awaba runner Luke Young finished in a time of 49 minutes and 34 seconds, well ahead of Reuben Swain (51:02) and James Alexander (51:15).

Wilson, of Newcastle, was the first female to complete the run in a time of 58:45. She beat Ainsley Pahljina (1:00:58) and Felicity Gamble (1:01:40).

The top-three male and female runners, along with the wheelchair competitors, shared in $4000 prize money.

"The numbers were down on previous years, but that's just COVID at the moment - most events are down 30-odd per cent," Paul Humphreys, of run organiser H-Events, said.

"But we're really happy.

"Lots of people from out of town, the various regions around Newcastle.

"So a good little tourism boost for the area."

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