The countdown of the top 10 most memorable Melbourne races continues with our panel of experts selecting 2007 at No.4
The Year: 2007
The Winners: Rowan Walker (ACT) 2:19.16, Hanny Allston (Tas) 2:40.34
The Race
After taking ownership of the race in mid-2006, Dallas O’Brien and his IMG team had time to institute some changes.
Without a doubt the biggest was radically to alter the course and finish with a three-quarter lap inside the MCG.
That led to a massive influx of entries with more than 16,000 across the four events, which included 10km and 5.5km events — up from about 7000 in 2006.
The marathon jumped to 2622 finishers, with women (613) figuring heavily.
Geelong’s Rowan Walker, based at the time in Canberra with the Department of Defence and coached by Lee Troop, ran a personal best of 2:19.16 to win after catching tiring Kenyan Josphat Mwangi (2:20.55) at 38km.
Former world cross country representative Trent Harlow, who had moved from Canberra to Melbourne, was third in a PB 2:21.58.
“Troopy’s guidance was for me to run with the pack until 25km and then go,” Walker said. “I caught the Kenyan around 38km and got a second wind for a bit. I thought, ‘Geez, I’m running for a win here. This is new.’ It was pretty special running into the MCG. Troopy jumped down from the stands and was screaming at me. It was a pretty epic feeling.”
At 37, Walker was the race’s second oldest male winner and having spent six months in Afghanistan as well as serving in the Navy, his resumee was hardly conventional.
“A few myths were perpetuated that I ran around the decks to keep fit, but I was a mine warfare sailor and you’d be at sea for five or six days at most, so over the years I was able to keep my training pretty regular,” Walker said.
In the women’s race, Hobart 21-year-old Hanny Allston stuck close to the early pace set by defending champion Karen Natoli and 39-year-old mum Michelle Bleakley before taking the lead just after the halfway mark and recording an upset win in 2:40.34.
“I felt really good. It wasn’t hard at all to get away from the other girls at 20km. It was pretty lonely on the way home. I’m stoked with the time, a six-minute PB,” Allston said.
Allston, the 2006 world orienteering champion, was the second youngest female winner, three months older than Tracey Newton in 1997. Sadly she retired from competition in 2010 but has set up her own training business, Find Your Feet.
The quantity of PBs boded well for the revamped city-loop course.
Richmond veteran Agni Ziogos missed out on Margaret Ellis-Smith’s 50-54 age group record set in 1990 by one second with her 3:12.15 run, but visiting US star Melody Anne Schulz clocked 3:38.38 to smash the 65-69 age group record.
The 30th anniversary race was a big one for the then 13 Spartan Legends.
Shirley Young, 77, crossed the line in 6:39.08 after being helped along by fellow Legend Pete Battrick, who had a calf injury.
“Shirley already had the onset of Alzheimer’s and we’d only gone about 3km and she was asking me at what stage we were at,” Battrick recalled. “Getting her to the line that year was probably my best effort.”
Why it was memorable
Mona says: “The big move to the MCG was an inspired decision and has captured the imagination of participants, especially locals.”
Turney says: “A big coup for the organisers to have the race finish at the MCG. Many people would only dream of being able to run on this ground and now the Melbourne Marathon gave the masses a chance to realise their dreams.”
Muirden says: “There are a handful of Spartans who would still prefer the old Frankston to Town Hall course, but from a practical point of view, the MCG ticks all the boxes. Iconic, great infrastructure, great touch of history with 1956 and 2006 and an out-and-back course that enables fast times.”
Our panellists:
Steve Moneghetti – Berlin and Commonwealth Games Marathon winner, Balllarat running icon, Comm Games Chef de Mission and regular Melbourne Marathon TV commentator
Jackie Cook (nee Turney) – two-time race winner (1981 and 1987) and coach of many Melbourne Marathon entrants
Chris Muirden – race historian, regular entrant and former course director
