Jacob Climbs The Ladder
By Brian Marantelli 25 September 2015
Jacob Nolan completed his first Victorian Cross Country League season in fine style crossing the line with the fastest time and then winning the sealed handicap on adjusted times. Jacob, previously a competitor with the Bendigo Athletic League, made the move to Melbourne this season and has become a regular competitor with the VCCL. Sunday was Jacob’s twelfth run for the season and the win comes on the back of a solid fourth placing over the tough Kyneton Estate Ridge Winery course last Sunday. Nolan also competes with the Victorian Athletic League over the summer months and his recent cross country form should ensure a successful track season for 2015/16.
Matt Grant, another looking for the summer VAL season, ran a great race to finish second only five seconds from the winner. Mathew, forced to race solo, chased the three backmarkers solidly for the entire 6.5km trip to just fail. Corina Kapusta put in another stirring performance in third place and once again took home the fastest female award with a run of 26:41. The ever consistent Leon Brooks finished fourth, his ninth top ten finish of the season. Next in were Rob Eppinger, David Page, Ash Snowden and Andrew Lane with only seconds between them. Andrew Lane assured himself of the club aggregate award with his eighth placed effort. Matthew Sullivan, in ninth place, completed his first year with the club in fine style. Hugo Sarpa was tenth across the line in both the sealed and handicap sections of the race. The race for fastest overall time eventually went to the winner but Jacob (23:28) was pressed hard for the majority of the event by Rob Eppinger (23:34) and Matthew Sullivan (23:45).
Sunday’s race was the last for the VCCL 2015 season. The committee would like to thank all competitors, officials, volunteers and sponsors for their contributions throughout the season. We hope to see everyone back for season 2016. Watch the VCCL website for any updates over the summer months.
The club’s presentation night is this Saturday at the Bentleigh Club with a 6pm start.
