Liam Adams has won the 2011 City2Surf fun run. 69056 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By Charlene Gatt
MEET the latest City2Surf winner.
Victoria University student and cross-country champion Liam Adams sprinted home earlier this month to take out the popular 14-kilometre fun run in a time of 41 minutes and 11 seconds, beating Commonwealth Games champion and race favourite Michael Shelley by two seconds.
It was the first time Mr Adams, 24, attempted the undulating course, which includes Heartbreak Hill – a two-kilometre winding ascent – about six kilometers into the race.
Mr Adams and Mr Shelley ran together for most of the race, with Mr Adams sprinting off to claim first place.
“I knew I had been training well, but I really didn’t expect to win,” he said.
“I understand the reason it’s called Heartbreak Hill, because you get to a couple of the corners and you think that’s the end of the hill and it just keeps going and going and going.
“Me and Michael Shelley were really, really hurting.
“I was talking to him after the race and he said that he felt it was as though I was just about to run away from him and if I had of done that, there was no way he was going to catch me, and I felt the same way too.
“We were both spent and it came down to a sprint finish and I’m not really known for having that kick for a sprint finish, so for me to be able to out-sprint Shelley, who’s got that 1500-metre speed, is an amazing effort.”
Mr Adams has been running since he was 10 years old and competes for Athletics Essendon.
He is a five-time Australian cross-country champion and was named Australia’s top male university athlete in 2008 and 2010.
Mr Adams currently runs about 150 kilometres a week and is keen to secure a spot on the Australian athletics team heading to the London Olympics next year.
