Running News Daily

Olympian Genevieve Gregson posts first marathon win in Melbourne

Genevieve Gregson has scored her first marathon win, two months after running in the event at the Paris Olympics..

The Queenslander won the Melbourne Marathon on Sunday in two hours, 28 minutes and 13 seconds, beating local Sarah Klein by nearly three minutes. Kate Mason, also from Melbourne, completed the women's podium in 2:34:08.

Genevieve's husband Ryan Gregson finished second in the men's race behind Jack Rayner, who clocked 2:11:49 after winning the Melbourne half-marathon for the past three years.

Gregson finished in 2:13:31 to take another step in his transition from middle-distance events, while New Zealander Christopher Dryden posted 2:18:10 for third.

It was the first time the two winners have run the full distance in Melbourne.

Paris was Genevieve's third marathon and she clocked 2:29:56 for 24th place at the Games, after running on the track at the previous three Olympics.

The 46th Melbourne Marathon festival attracted 42,000 runners, with Bendigo's Andy Buchanan winning the men's half-marathon in 1:01:42 after he also ran in the marathon at the Paris Games.

Leanne Pompeani from Canberra took out the women's race, posting 1:09:01 in an exciting finish.

Adelaide's Jess Stenson, one of Gregson's Paris Olympics marathon teammates, was only two seconds behind Pompeani in second.

Only eight seconds separated first from third, with Paris Olympics 5000m runner and fellow Adelaide entrant Izzi Batt-Doyle completing the podium.

(10/14/2024) Views: 167 ⚡AMP
by Roger Vaughan

Kenyans Timothy Rono and Beatrice Cheptoo bag Melbourne Marathon titles

Timothy Rono and Beatrice Cheptoo bagged the men's and women's titles at the Nike Melbourne Marathon in Australia on Sunday.

Rono clocked 2:09:12, smashing Dominic Ondoro's course record by one minute and 30 seconds set in 2013.

Compatriot Cornelius Kibet came second in 2:10:24 as Australia's Reece Edwards rounded the podium places in 2:14:41.

An ecstatic Rono was delighted with the victory in warm conditions in Australia's second-largest city.

"It was a good race. The conditions were good, a bit cloudy but not too hot and not too cold. I had prepared for it from the start and I kept going until the end," added Rono.

Rono broke away with six kilometers to go after being pushed close by Kibet.

"I timed my race quite well. I know Kibet. I knew I have a stronger kick  and that allowed me to increase the pace in the final few kilometers," said Rono. 

Following the win, Rono has set his eyes on the bigger city marathons like Boston, New York, London come next year.

“I'm looking at participating in the big ones next year, God willing. I want to test myself against the best and I am relishing the challenge,” he added.

For the win Rono bagged a cool Sh3 million.

In the women's category, Cheptoo ran a superb race in a time of 2:27:58 on her debut on Australian soil .

Australia's Izzi Batt Doyle finished second in 2:28:10 with Maru Ejigu of Ethiopia third in 2:28:54

For the win Cheptoo bagged Sh2 million.

Australia's Jack Raynor won the men's half marathon in 1:02:16 while the women's category went to Jess Stenson in a time of 1:12:22.

Festival Director Marcus Gale, commented: “Congratulations to the winners and everyone who got involved in the 2022 Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival."

"Whether you were tackling the 42.195km for the first or 44th time, soaking up the city’s sights on the 3km track or cheering from the MCG grandstand, it was incredible to see the Australian running community out in full force and an honour to deliver another successful event for the city."

(10/03/2022) Views: 1,734 ⚡AMP
by William Njuguna

Sinead Diver age 41 clocked the fastest female marathon time on Australian soil

Sinead Diver, a 41-year-old mother of two clocked a 2:25:19 marathon this morning.  This is the second fastest marathon ever by an Irish-born female athlete. The Irish native and Australian international Sinead Diver posted a fantastic 2:25:19 to set a new course record at the Medibank Melbourne Marathon on Sunday (October 14). Diver emigrated to Australia in 2002, and on Sunday she showed that when it comes to the marathon running, age is only a number after taking over six minutes off her personal best. The 41 year-old, who has two young sons, is now the second fastest Irish-born female, and her winning time is also the quickest by an Australian female athlete on Australian soil. (10/14/2018) Views: 2,601 ⚡AMP