AUSSIE TEAM BACK UP RUNNERS FROM DOWN UNDER ARE SET FOR DESERT RACE.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Twenty-six Australian runners, most of them law enforcement officers, were getting their groove on Wednesday at a block party thrown in their honor.

The runners, from Australia's Gold Coast, including Brisbane and Cairns, will be participating for their second year in the Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay against more than 200 other teams, comprised of peace officers from around the world.

``The event is just one run, it's probably just the excuse to come out here,'' said Detective Anthony Buxton, who will be running in the third stage of the Mojave Desert race. ``This is mostly a good opportunity to network with other departments and talk about strategies as coppers do. But the camaraderie and the hospitality out here is just wonderful.''

The relay, coming up this weekend, is a grueling 120-mile race from outside the town of Baker into Las Vegas. The race is split up into varying legs that range from just about four miles to as many as eight miles.

The course is difficult enough but the temperatures add to the challenge. Runners say it's not uncommon to run the race in temperatures that start above 60 degrees, dip below freezing overnight, and jump to 110 degrees the following afternoon.

Each year, the race regularly includes teams from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Berlin Police and other teams from around the world.

The Australian team last participated in 2001 and hasn't been able to form a team again until this year. Only six of the runners from the 2001 team returned this year.

``I've been looking forward to coming to America for a long time,'' said Renae Crowe, a detective in training. ``It really didn't sink in until we landed. It's just an incredible experience. Everyone, especially the people we're staying with, have been amazing.''

The runners are staying with Palmdale residents David and Phylis Gonda, Gil and Sharon Sherwood and Ed and Jill Blizard, all of whom live in the same neighborhood.

In honor of the team's arrival, neighborhood residents threw an all-day party full of food, drinks and music at the Gondas' home. Local firefighters, sheriff's deputies and CHP officers brought their vehicles and equipment for the team to check out.

``It's not actually a party; it's a three-block party,'' said Phylis Gonda. ``It's been really great having them here.''

After the race and awards ceremony this weekend, many members of the team will return to Australia but a handful have dedicated the next month to seeing California, including Death Valley, San Francisco and Yosemite National Park.

The welcome party was helped out by food, money and gifts donated by La Cocina Bar and Grill, Smart and Final, Lancaster Ford, Staples, Lowes, Trader Joe's, the Professional Peace Officers Association, the Sheriff's Relief Association, the Palmdale sheriff's station, the Palmdale Chamber of Commerce and the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs.

Greg Botonis, [phone]

gregory.botonis(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) Australian runners who will be taking part in the Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay this weekend are, from left, Sharron Harper, Renae Crowe, Cassandra Hurley, Maxine Wilson, Anthony Buxton, Jodie Spies and Steve Gollschewski.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer