Melbourne Marathon Festival

Less than a year after the birth of her son, Lisa Weightman has returned to the top of her sport, winning the Australian Half Marathon Championship on Sunday.  A steady start found Weightman running with fellow Olympian Eloise Wellings at half way but an increase in the pace up St Kilda Rd saw her enter the MCG along to cross the line in 1:11:00, taking 21s off the course record.  The win also came with a team gold, combining with Julie Norney and Bronwyn Humphrys to win the state team marathon title for Victoria. Weightman will now focus on training for the Houston Marathon in January in order to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

More than 20 MUAC athletes were amongst the action at the Melbourne Marathon Festival with many pleasing results and personal bests. Martin Mashford took fourth in the 10km in 30:34 and looks primed for a big summer of middle distance running. Nick Earl was first Victorian home in the Australian Half Marathon Championships in 10th place.

In the full marathon Al Bryant-Smith and Dion Houtman, well supported by a vocal and energetic MUAC cohort on the course, both recorded personal bests.

MUAC athletes spent the afternoon recovering in the sunshine with a BBQ on the deck of Winter Manager Max Ueda and Winter Captain Dave Mcdonald.

MUAC will be back in action on Saturday, 24th October with Round 2 of AV Shield at Abefeldie.