Fogarty (53), a Dunedin business account manager, had been suffering from a side strain over past weeks, and was not sure whether he should compete in the 68th running of the annual cross-country event inspired by the late Sir James Barnes, a past member of Parliament for St Kilda, mayor of Dunedin, and middle-distance and cross-country running champion.
Competing from the 3min 30sec mark in the 5km event, Fogarty did not start to feature until after the second lap of the four-lap race.
"Things at this stage started to feel a little easier," Fogarty said afterwards of running with some discomfort at first.
"I just came into my stride and just hung on, I suppose. I just ran my own race. I wasn’t too worried about those around me. But I know I just have to get fitter for races later in the season."
Fogarty hit the lead with a lap and a-half remaining and entering the fourth and final lap, he held a 37sec lead on Luke McKinlay (Leith) and Ian McDonald (Caversham).
Taking encouragement from supporters around the course, Fogarty dug deep to muster up a little more pace and cross the finish line 29sec clear of McKinlay, with Nic Bathgate a further 19sec back in third.
Fogarty’s handicap-deducted time for the race was 21min 57.4sec. McKinlay, competing from the 4min 30sec mark, clocked an actual time of 21min 26.9sec, and Bathgate (7min), clocked 19min 15.4sec.
Although he has featured regularly in local events, yesterday’s victory was Fogarty’s first centre title in 23 years of competitive running.
"I now have some bragging rights to take on the lunchtime runs with one or two of the guys out here today," he said.
"It never wanes as far as enthusiasm goes," he added of his longevity in the sport while mentioning it was all about self-discipline when it came to mileage and managing to balance things out.
"I sincerely love competitive running. Like I don’t want to give that away at all."
Fastest time in the open men’s event was achieved by Sam Bremer (Hill City-University), who clocked 17min 28.7sec.
A feature on the national and international triathlon scene earlier this century, Taryn McLean (Hill City-University) made a triumphant return to the sport, winning the open women’s title yesterday.
McLean (nee McLeod, 36), who manages the Metro Indoor Sports facility with husband Andy, himself a prominent lawn bowler in Dunedin, began from the 5min 30sec mark in the three-lap event.
For the first two laps McLean worked her way through the field ahead of her, while holding out those behind her. Entering the final lap she was still a minute down on leader Lesley McCormack (Caversham), who was making the most of her early start. But emerging from the tracks with 800m remaining, McLean had reeled McCormack in to take the lead, and found another gear for the run home. She crossed to win 28sec clear of second-placed Emma Sutherland (Ariki) with Cilla Dickinson (Hill City-University) a further 9sec back third.
McLean, clocked the fourth-fastest actual running time of 17min 6.4sec.
Fastest time was clocked by Bella Bloomfield (Hill City-University), who recorded a smart 16min 2.8sec.
Other highlights were. —
• Jake Owen (Hill City-University) wong the junior men’s title on the 2.5km course in an actual time of 10min 48.4sec while Caitlin O’Donnell (Leith) won the junior women’s title in 11min 7.6sec.
• In future champions races, Max Holgate won the boy’s under 13 event over 1.25km in 6min 35.1sec, and Lila Rhodes (Hill City-University) the girl’s under-13 title in 6min 6sec.
• The 500m dash was won by Julia Hodgson (7). Morris Dickinson (5) was the first boy to finish.
