Australia’s best runners heading for Ballarat

THE Australian Road Mile Championships will come to Ballarat as part of the marathon festival next year.

The partnership with Athletics Australia will involve the competition’s elite mile races, which take place on the Saturday, becoming the championships.

Ballarat Marathon’s Adam McNicol said the addition will elevate the Ballarat Marathon to a national stage.

“We obviously call ourselves the Ballarat Marathon and our signature distance is that full 42.2 kilometres but our Saturday program, which is that mile and the five-kilometre… can be such a huge part of our event,” he said.

“We want the Saturday to be a really spectacular party and a spectacular celebration of athletics and participation.

“What this Australian Road Mile Championships does for us is it means the elite side is nationally recognised so there will be a national title on the line.”

Athletics Australia board member Steve Moneghetti said the Saturday will provide a great day of racing for spectators and runners.

“You can see on the streets of Ballarat you have a chance to not just dream about it but to actually run it,” he said.

“And for spectators it will be sensational.”

Mr McNicol encouraged people who would like to take part in the festival to register early, with numbers already up on last year.

“The response from the running community is just huge,” he said.

“The sooner you can sign up, the more it helps the event and the more you know you’ve got a place because lots of people are looking for entries and our entry numbers are really strong.”

To find out more information, visit the Ballarat Marathon website.