train-ing pays off as runners beat billythe great train race is a major fundraiser for the railway,...

MEDIARELEASE

5May2019

TRAIN-INGPAYSOFFASRUNNERSBEATBILLYGREATTRAINRACE2019

Over2,258runnerstooktotheDandenongRangesthismorningwithonecommongoal–tobeatPuffing

BillyonitsjourneyfromBelgravetoLakesideStationatEmeraldLakePark.

Coveringadistanceof13.5km,theGreatTrainRaceisoneoftheoldestandmosticoniceventsonthe

Australianrunningcalendar.Itattractseliterunnersaswellasthosewhowanttochallengethemselvesover

auniquecourse.Thescenicracetakesrunnersthroughpristineforests,underrailbridgesandontoroads,

presentingthemwiththreehillclimbsinthefirst10kmandasoftdownhilltrailforthefinal3-4km.

Thisyear’swinnerwasBenKellyfromTynongNorthwhocrossedthelinein45.01minutes.Thiswas

Ben’sfirsttimerunningtheGreatTrainRace.

ThefirstfemaletocrossthelinewasalsoafirsttimerunnerintheGreatTrainRace.KiahFryfrom

Blairgowriefinishedtheracein49.57minutes.Coincidentally,BenKellyandKiahFryhavethesame

runningcoachbuttrainwithdifferentclubs.

PuffingBillycrossedthelinein1hour,5minutesand19seconds,whichwasover12minutesslowerthan

2018,possiblyduetothewetconditionsonthetrack.Billywasbeatenby486runners.

ShaneThielefromSouthYarrawontheVeteranMale(aged40andover)whoranin51.03minutes.Tracey

AustinfromKewwontheVeteranFemale(aged40andover)whoranin57.48minutes.

TheUnder18MaleWinnerwasBrodyThrumfromLancefieldwhoran in52:50.TheUnder18Female

WinnerwasJaimee-LeeCodefromNarreWarrenNorthwhoranin54:14.

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Two blind runners also took on Puffing Billy this year,with the support of their guides. KevinMurfitt

finishedinatimeof1hours,34minutesand54seconds,andFrancoisJacobscoveredthe13.5kmroutein

1hour,38minutesand51seconds.

Afulllistofwinnersandraceresultsareavailableathttps://puffingbilly.com.au/events/great-train-race/winners-results/onMonday6May.

TheGreatTrainRaceisamajorfundraiserfortheRailway,whichisanotforprofitorganisationthat

operatesunderthesteamofmorethan600volunteers.

TheGreatTrainRacewishestothankracesponsorsActiveFeet,BrooksandEnduraSportsNutritionfor

theirongoingsupport.

Formoreinformationpleasevisitwww.puffingbilly.com.au