Ballarat Marathon to host inaugural Australian Road Mile Championships

Some of the best middle distance runners in the nation will be taking to the streets of Ballarat in April after the Running Warehouse Ballarat Marathon was named host of the inaugural Australian Road Mile Championships.

The Championships will be held on the evening of Saturday 26 April on a spectacular course in Ballarat’s CBD, with the world’s best preserved gold rush-era streetscape as the backdrop.

The races will cap off the Ballarat Marathon’s opening day program, which also features elite races over 5km along with mass-participation races over both one mile and 5km.

Athletics Australia Board Member and Ballarat Marathon Race Director, Steve Moneghetti:

“We are delighted to be hosting the first Australian Road Mile Championships. It is our aim to build a world-class event that elevates the profile of road running over a range of distances and also celebrates my beautiful home town of Ballarat. Hosting the Championships is a big step along this journey.

“Our mile races were a brilliant part of the inaugural Ballarat Marathon program earlier this year, and this elevates the races to another level. We can’t wait to see some of our best runners blaze their way through the streets in April.”

Athletics Australia CEO, Simon Hollingsworth:

“Ballarat has a proud legacy in Australian athletics, highlighted by icons like Steve Moneghetti as well as the iconic Ballarat Marathon, and makes a natural fit to host the inaugural Australian Road Mile Championship as part of next year’s event.

“The addition of the Championships adds to the city’s rich running tradition and provides an exciting platform to showcase the best middle distance road talent in the country.”

City of Ballarat Councillor, Tess Morgan:

“The Ballarat Marathon is an amazing event and based off the success of its debut year, it is going to be even bigger and better in 2025

“Being able to add more elements to the event such as the Australian Road Mile Championships show it is truly becoming a festival of running.

“We look forward to the event returning in April and the many benefits to Ballarat that it delivers.”

The first Ballarat Marathon, held across the last weekend of April, drew almost 5000 participants onto the streets of Ballarat and generated an economic impact for the city’s economy of more than $5million.

Registrations are tracking very strongly for the 2025 event, which will be held across the weekend of 26 and 27 April.

The 5km and mile races will be held on Saturday 26 April.

The Sunday program, on 27 April, includes the Running Warehouse Marathon, Federation University Half Marathon and City of Ballarat 10km.

By Ballarat Marathon
Posted 12/12/024