Thousands of runners of all ages hit the pavement in Apollo Bay today for thefirst dayof the Kieser Great Ocean Road Running Festival, taking part in the 1.5km Great Ocean Road Real Estate Kids Gallop, 6km Run and 14km Paradise Run.
Last year’s winners of the 14km event backed up their titles with Melbourne’s Andre Waring taking out the men’s category in a time of 41:34:13, and UK-born Calli Thackery smashing out the course in 46:29:20. Seth Chan and Brigitte Humphrey were the fastest athletes to cross the 6km finish line, clocking up times of 21:29:63 and 22:32:70, respectively. A flock of run-loving families took on the 1.5km Kids Gallop and the hilarious Pub to Pub Waiter’s Race provided plenty of laughs throughout the day.
Great Ocean Road Real Estate 1.5km Kids’ Gallop Winners:
The girls: (1st) Zoe Medley 07:40.61, (2nd) Octavia Geekie 07:50.90, (3rd) Hayley Gilbert 08:26.65
The boys: (1st) Rory Boyd 06:34.28, (2nd) Harry Brennan 06:36.65, (3rd) Arjun Tippur 06:42:90
6km Run Winners:
Female: (1st) Brigitte Humphrey 22:32.70, (2nd) Claire Phillips 25:24.48, (3rd) Rebecca Gilmore 25:30:42
Male: (1st) Seth Chan 21:29.63, (2nd) Taylor Righi 22:23.21, (3rd) Rich Larsen 22:33:16
14km Paradise Run Winners:
Female: (1st) Calli Thackery 46:29:20, (2nd) Melissa Duncan 47:10.14, (3rd) Stella Radford 47:35.17
Male: (1st) Andre Waring 41:34.13, (2nd) Alex Ritchie 42:43.98, (3rd) Matthew Buckell 43:43.18
Victorians don’t want to miss an impressive line-up of athletes taking on the Ultra Marathon (60km), Kieser Marathon (44km) and Brooks Half Marathon (23km) from 8am TOMORROW, including Olympian and Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, Steve Moneghetti, and 2022 14km Paradise Run winner, Calli Thackery, taking on the 23km distance from Kennett River.
Thousands of entrants are running to raise money for worthy causes, including the Apollo Bay & District Health Foundation – the official charity partner of the event. Two thirds of the festival’s $75,000 fundraising target have already been achieved, and with another day of racing tomorrow, that number is predicted to climb.
