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