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

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MEDIA RELEASE 5 May 2019 TRAIN-ING PAYS OFF AS RUNNERS BEAT BILLY GREAT TRAIN RACE 2019 Over 2,258 runners took to the Dandenong Ranges this morning with one common goal – to beat Puffing Billy on its journey from Belgrave to Lakeside Station at Emerald Lake Park. Covering a distance of 13.5km, the Great Train Race is one of the oldest and most iconic events on the Australian running calendar. It attracts elite runners as well as those who want to challenge themselves over a unique course. The scenic race takes runners through pristine forests, under rail bridges and onto roads, presenting them with three hill climbs in the first 10km and a soft downhill trail for the final 3-4km. This year’s winner was Ben Kelly from Tynong North who crossed the line in 45.01 minutes. This was Ben’s first time running the Great Train Race. The first female to cross the line was also a first time runner in the Great Train Race. Kiah Fry from Blairgowrie finished the race in 49.57 minutes. Coincidentally, Ben Kelly and Kiah Fry have the same running coach but train with different clubs. Puffing Billy crossed the line in 1 hour, 5 minutes and 19 seconds, which was over 12 minutes slower than 2018, possibly due to the wet conditions on the track. Billy was beaten by 486 runners. Shane Thiele from South Yarra won the Veteran Male (aged 40 and over) who ran in 51.03 minutes. Tracey Austin from Kew won the Veteran Female (aged 40 and over) who ran in 57.48 minutes. The Under 18 Male Winner was Brody Thrum from Lancefield who ran in 52:50. The Under 18 Female Winner was Jaimee-Lee Code from Narre Warren North who ran in 54:14.

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  • 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.

  • MEDIARELEASE

    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