Labinsky crowned king once again
NEIL Labinsky made it seven King of The Mountain titles in a row on Sunday, with a dominant victory in the annual hill race.
The 33-year-old Sippy Downs athlete completed the 4.5km course up Mount Cooroora in 24min 20sec, falling short of his own race record, however, capping a memorable streak.
He finished 2.02 in front of his nearest rival, New Zealand's Sjors Corporaal, but still well short of his 2009 mark of 22.43. Shay Williamson (26.41) rounded out the placings as well as taking out the junior men's division.
Overall fourth-place getter Andrew Town won the veteran men's division in 28.00.
Colin Earwalker finished first in the veteran's category after crossing the line in 29.06.
Demelsa Murrihy won the women's race in 32.56, with Leslie Saunders-Webb and Michelle Woodhouse rounding out the top three female competitors.
The iconic race started in 1958, when local footballer and railway porter Bruce Samuels ran to the top of Mount Cooroora.
He came back announcing that he had done it in less than an hour.
His claim brought some doubt from the locals, who urged Samuels into declaring he would do it again, under supervision.
The race became a regular event for several years, with races continuing into the 1960s.
Then in 1979 it was revived.
