Airlie Beach welcomed over 700 runners from around the world for the 12th Tassal Airlie Beach Marathon Festival held over July 19–20, with ideal weather helping set new records in all races except the half marathon.
The weekend began with the McDonald’s Airlie Beach Foreshore Magic Mile, won by Kirra Hamilton (Urangan) in the women’s category and Nick Mooney (Kiamba) in the men’s.
In the North Queensland Championship Marathon, Whitsunday Running Club’s Liv Compton claimed her third consecutive women’s title in a record 3:07:50, followed by teammate Aimee Sulzberger and Hamilton Island’s Francesca Bellicini. Thomas Baker from Winmalee (NSW) won the men’s marathon in 2:54:09, with Mackay’s Mick Vivian second and South Australian Bailey Collins third.
The fiercely competitive Locus Surveys Half Marathon saw Rhyly Paton edge out Nick Mooney to win the men’s race, with Whitsunday Running Club’s William Grogan finishing third. Kirra Hamilton secured her second win of the weekend in the women’s half marathon, followed by Whitsunday Running Club’s Riana Wronski and Ballina’s Hannah Crowe.
Bowen’s Brendan Maltby won both the Whitsunday Transit 10km and Momentum High Risk Training 5km races. Hannah Terry (The Range) set a new women’s 10km record of 40:10, while Whitsunday Running Club’s Millie Groom broke the 5km women’s record with 18:25.
The Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Service (ARFFS) team won the Mantra Club Croc Corporate Challenge in a record 1:07:26.
Mascot races delighted the crowd, featuring Cruiser (Cruise Whitsundays), Blazer (Queensland Fire and Emergency Services), Piggy (Bendigo Bank), Batman (Gotham City), Sam (Wilmar), Molly Molar and Toby Toothpaste (Whitsunday Family Dental), and Troppo (Tassal). Batman claimed a narrow win over Toby Toothpaste.
Junior records were set by Xavier Watson and Willow Kenny in the Wilmar 2km Junior Dash, and Wilson and Olive Hounsell in the Macrossan and Amiet 1km Kids Run/Walk.
Mayor Ry Collins and Councillor Jan Clifford handed out the distinctive ‘Nemo’ medals to finishers.
Event Manager, Tim McQuoid-Mason said “It is very satisfying to see so many happy faces at the end of every race.
"It is also an honour to be able to hold events that encourage the development of the younger members of our community. A special thank you goes out to all the volunteers that helped on the weekend and to our community for allowing us to showcase the foreshore.”
Contributed with thanks to Tim McQuoid-Mason
Whitsunday Life's Ruth Puddefoot got a PB in her Half Marathon
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