Sport
7 January, 2025
Hanrahan powers to the front in the 1600 metre Open
Liam Hanrahan was made to work for it, but he eventually took home the Win Network 1600 metre Open final.
Hanrahan had to do the hard work of running down the front markers, but once he did so, fought off a huge challenge behind to take victory, running a time of 4.13.72 off 110 metres, with Hamish Renkin finishing second and Glenn McMilan third.
It was a triumph for Hanrahan changing his plan around chasing down those who started in front of him.
“It feels good to be rewarded at the end of a tough race, I’ve put a bit of work into myself at the start to get stuck into the wind and the race, but it’s good to get a win,” he said.
“I remember earlier on, I used to get pretty overwhelmed seeing how far in front people are and thinking you’ll never catch them, but I just back myself in, stick to a race plan, tick off the laps at an honest pace and eventually you get into the race and go from there.”
Hanrahan was thrilled by the crowd cheering him and his fellow competitors home at the end of a gruelling race, littered with adjusting to headwinds and tail-winds.
“I had to work a fair bit on the home straight into the wind and open up and relax on the back straight,” he said.
“It was great. The crowd is awesome getting us through the last 100 when the legs are barking at you and you need that effort to get over the line.”
Hanrahan now has a confidence boost after not quite scoring victory at the recent Bay Sheffield event.
“I ran at the Bay and came third, was run over the top in the last 100, but it’s good to come here and get a bit more confidence,” he said.