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Great Ocean Road Running Festival Hits the Ground Running for Milestone Edition

Great Ocean Road Running Festival, presented by Melrose

Please see VNR and editorial images featuring the winners and representatives from this weekend’s opening day of the Great Ocean Road Running Festival, presented by Melrose.

• VNR available here and includes:

  • Steve Moneghetti, Great Ocean Road Running Festival Ambassador at 1:22

  • 14km Paradise Run Male and Female winners cross at 1:14

• Editorial images available here and include:

  • Spectators enjoying the Great Ocean Road Running Festival

  • Runners at the start line of the Goodness Me 1.5km Kids Gallop

  • Australian long-distance champion Steve Moneghetti

  • Male and female winners crossing the finish line

Editorial:

Melbourne, Australia - The 20th edition of the Great Ocean Road Running Festival, presented by Melrose, has officially hit the ground running with day one of the two-day celebration complete.

Saturday’s events included the Chobani Fit 14km Paradise Run, SriLankan Airlines 6km run, Goodness Me 1.5km Kids Gallop and hotly contested Pub-to-Pub Waiters Race.

The opening day is a family friendly affair before experienced runners take to various courses tomorrow. Notable athletes competing tomorrow include:

• Grace Tame (Australian of the Year 2021)

  • Defending her 2024 title in the Ultra Marathon.

• Julian Spence

  • The ‘King of the Great Ocean Road’ as a four-time winner of the Marathon this year takes on the Brooks Half Marathon.

• Andre Waring

  • A Brooks athlete and former winner of the Half Marathon and 14km Paradise Run who has stamped his dominance on the Festival in recent years. Winner of 2025 14km Paradise Run.

• Lambros brothers

  • In 2024 became the first brothers to run across Australia, raising $249,000 for cancer research across the 3,400km journey from Perth to Melbourne, competing in the Half Marathon tomorrow. In July, they will attempt to set a Guinness World Record as the fastest brothers to run the entire length of the United Kingdom. 

• Steve Moneghetti 

  • Australian Long Distance Running legend and Event Ambassador. Steve competed in today’s 14km Paradise Run and has been involved in every Great Ocean Road Running Festival since 2005.

Please find results from today, and Sunday’s schedule below:

Saturday 17th May Results

Chobani Fit 14km Paradise Run:

• Male - Andre Waring, 40:23.04

• Female - Charlotte Wilson, 47:46.39

SriLankan Airlines 6km Run:

• Male - Evander Scott, 18:39.21

• Female - Teyvia Williams, 23:36.95

Goodness Me 1.5km Kids Gallop:

• Male - Benjamin Hickingbotham, 6:13.90

• Female - Mia Di Mieri, 6:38.87

Sunday 18th May Schedule

Ultra Marathon - 8:00am Start

• Start - Lorne

• Finish - Apollo Bay

Melrose Great Ocean Road Marathon - 8:00am Start

• Start - Lorne

• Finish - Apollo Bay

Brooks Half Marathon - 8:00am Start

• Start - Kennett River

• Finish - Apollo Bay

High Sierra 12km Trail Run - 8:10am Start

• Start - Lorne

• Finish - Lorne

Great Ocean Road Walk (5km/10km) - 8:30am Start

• Start - Lorne

• Finish - Lorne

Complete results are available at www.greatoceanroadrunfest.com.au. 

Notes to editors:

VNR will be available Sunday afternoon, approximately 3:30pm Melbourne time. Please advise if you would like to receive.

Please take note of road closures if attending in person.

For media enquiries, please email: [email protected]

Key Facts:

- 20th edition of the Great Ocean Road Running Festival presented by Melrose underway, Australian long-distance running legend Steve Moneghetti competed in the 14km Paradise Run.

- VNR available from today's 14km, 6km, 1.5km Kids Gallop and Steve Moneghetti.

- Ultra, Full and Half Marathons to take place Sunday.

About us:

About the Great Ocean Road Running Festival, presented by Melrose:

The Great Ocean Road Running Festival, presented by Melrose, is held in a beautiful and unique area of Victoria, Australia on the Southern Ocean. Each year the event attracts many athletes from around the world, all eager to participate in this challenging and pristine environment.

With eight distances to choose from, 60km to 1.5km, roads to trails, walks to runs – there is an event for everyone! It’s not all about the run though, immerse yourself in the whole Festival experience including glamping, yoga, live music, kite flying and so much more!

Anyone travelling along this road by car would not be able to experience the absolute serenity and at times the wilderness experience that you as a runner can. As you run along this course, with no traffic at all, you can almost hear the waves calling your name. The only sound you will hear is the soft thud of footsteps from your fellow competitors.

If you are driving down to Apollo Bay via the Great Ocean Road, you can see kangaroos usually lounging on the Golf Course at Anglesea – worth a brief stopover on route. Koalas are usually ‘snoozing’ during the day high up in certain gum trees along the Great Ocean Road.

Visit www.greatoceanroadrunfest.com.au. 

Contact details:

For more information, please contact [email protected]