Numbers swell for return of NewRun

2021 NewRun action in Newcastle on April 11. Pictures: Jonathan Carroll

Participants turned out in force as Newcastle's festival of running was back in action yesterday after being postponed at the last minute last year due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

NewRun race director Paul Humphreys reported around 2200 entrants across five events, saying numbers were the best since 2014.

Maitland twins Liam and Monty Dixon could barely be separated in the race for the Newcastle Herald Hill2Harbour 10-kilometre title with the former winning in 33 minutes and 51 seconds to edge out his brother by one second. Lauren Mewing won the women's 10km in 42:43 from Renee Compton (43:58) in second.

LEAD ROLE: Maitland twins Liam (1469) and Monty Dixon (1468) set the pace in a large Hill2Harbour 10-kilometre field on Sunday and fought it out for first place. Picture: Lee Pigott

Belmont's Hamish Longmuir won the men's half marathon (21.1km) in one hour, 13 minutes and 59 seconds. Vlad Shatrov was second in 1:16.40. Jessica Purbrick was the women's half marathon winner in 1:24.50.

Hamish Longmuir on his way to victory in the NewRun half marathon on Sunday. Picture: Lee Pigott

Jessica Purbrick was the women's half marathon winner at NewRun on Sunday. Picture: Lee Pigott

Devon Deppler won the men's marathon (42.2km) in 2:51.03 and the women's winner was Michelle Mcadam in 3:02.17.