BSP-06 Olympians, costumed athletes join massive Sydney race

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ATHLETICS-AUS-CITY2SURF

Olympians, costumed athletes join massive Sydney race

SYDNEY, Aug 12, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Australian Olympian Ben St Lawrence won
Sydney’s biggest road race for the second time Sunday as almost 80,000
people, including many in fancy dress, took part in the annual run.

One of the world’s biggest fun runs, the 14-kilometre (8.7 mile) City2Surf
race from Sydney city to Bondi beach attracts serious competitors and as well
as entrants in superhero and animal costumes.

In its 48th year, the event is a major fundraiser for Australian charities
and has so far raised almost Aus$4.2 million (US$3.1 million) for more than
1,000 organisations.

St Lawrence, a 36-year-old dual Olympian who won the City2Surf in 2010,
sprinted the last few metres of the run to win in 41min 42sec.

Australian Ellie Pashley, 29, was the first woman to cross the line in
46min 21sec.

Some of the runners took part dressed as gorillas, Superman and wrestlers,
with one participant even completing the race wearing nothing but his bib
number as a loincloth with a plastic bum to cover his buttocks.

BSS/AFP/MSY/1011 hrs