Legend to run in marathon

Australian running legend and multiple Olympian Steve Moneghetti will step back into the sunshine as a celebrity competitor for the 2016 LJ Hooker Broome Marathon Festival on Cable Beach this year.

Moneghetti is famous for his efforts competing at the 1986 Commonwealth Games, winning the 1990 Berlin Marathon with a then world-leading time of 2hr. 08min. 16sec, winning the 1994 Tokyo Marathon and winning a gold medal at the 1994 Commonwealth Games.

Event co-ordinator Glenn Taylor said attracting an elite athlete such as Moneghetti - who competed in four Olympic Games at Seoul in 1988, Barcelona in 1992, Atlanta in 1996, and Sydney in 2000 - to the event was something of which he was immensely proud.

“It is an absolute coup to get Steve to Broome for the fourth running of the LJ Hooker Broome Marathon. It is an incredible boost for the event,” he said.

“Steve is not sure at this stage what event he will be running in, as he still has a busy running schedule, but he has committed to running in either the LJ Hooker Marathon, the Life & Soul Run or the Matso’s Dash — either way competitors will get to meet and speak with Steve, and perhaps even ask for some training advice.”

The festival - which usually attracts 150 competitors across its three races, the 42.2km LJ Hooker Marathon, 19.6km Life & Soul Run and 11.3km Matso’s Dash — will be held on Sunday, July 10, with Australia’s most scenic beach as its course.

Taylor said there would be changes this year, including a new date to allow for low tide and hard packed sand on race day, the start and finish line have also moved, mp3 players can now be used by runners and the guest star will attend the medal presentations at Matso’s Broome Brewery and socialise throughout the races.

“He’s looking to socialise and talk to competitors. He’s very sociable these days, but he will be there to run through the field and chat to as many people as he can,” Taylor said.

Broome’s favourable weather is expected to draw competitors from far and wide and it is hoped the festival will be recognised as a destination race for both competitors and spectators. Organiser Glenn Taylor said he was expecting a good race day turnout for the fourth year of the event.

Registrations are open and full event details can be found here .

“There has been fantastic interest from new and experienced runners, locals and visitors,” he said.

“Being the school holidays we would expect to have some travellers and also have families racing and maintaining good health.”