Pre-pandemic goal achieved at Bellarine Sunset Run

THE sun has set on another Flying Brick Bellarine Sunset Run with more than one thousand runners and walkers returning to the coastal event.

Sunset Run organiser Dion Milne said he and his team believe they achieved their goal of returning the run’s atmosphere to pre-pandemic levels.

“We enjoyed a real late surge of entrants as the events got closer, but I’d say that has to do with the current climate of these events at this stage as people are more wary of their health,” Mr Milne said.

“I think we sold around 350 entries in the final week, so we believe it had a pre-pandemic feel to it. We certainly heard that from some of the participants.”

Highton local Theo Langlois (1:19:38) and Ocean Grove’s Danni Rogan (1:26:48) each took out the Sunset Run’s Half Marathon races.

Nathan Meade of Bendigo (37:16) and Brooke Williams of Barooga (37:55) finished across the finish line first in their respective categories for the smaller 10km race. The day’s most impactful race provided an inclusive environment for all participants. Hundreds of walkers, joggers and runners raised more than $3,700 as part of the 4km Bully Buster Run, with all funds going to Youth Service programs at Bellarine Community Health.

“We expect that number to get over $6,000, so it was great to have all other aspects of the day go smoothly,” Mr Milne added.

“We were also really lucky to have students from Portarlington Primary School back with us handing out medals.

“All up on the day, we were looking at about 1,150 people registering for the event.”