Victory in Victoria Square | de Rozario and Stenson star in golden opening

A golden start to the 2022 Commonwealth Games has dawned for the Australian Athletics Team, with both Madison de Rozario and Jessica Stenson winning marathon gold in on streets of Birmingham.

Stenson’s triumph came amidst tears of joy with friends and family - including son, Billy - present at the finish line at Victoria Square.

The crowning moment of her career, Stenson covered the 42.2km course at a cracking pace, dropping her rivals one by one before breaking the tape at 2:27:31.

After back-to-back bronze medals at Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018, Stenson makes history becoming the first female athlete to win three Commonwealth marathon medals.

“I saw it was mine with one kilometre to go. I was trying to juggle being excited and soaking it in, with concentrating and not tripping over. These roads can be uneven and just one little stumble and I’d land flat on my face and not get up again, so I just had to deliver myself to the finish line,” Stenson said. 

“I feel really content. I’m proud of my team. We got to have a good hug at the finish. We did this together today. This medal is certainly not just mine, I want all of the girls (compatriots Sinead Diver and Eloise Wellings) to feel like they’re wearing it because we did that together.”

Australia’s first female Commonwealth Games marathon champion since the late Kerryn McCann at Melbourne 2006, Stenson said it was the legacy of the greats that spurred her on to the finish line.

“I was thinking of Kerryn out there. In 2014, my coach (Adam Didyk) asked Steve Moneghetti, Lisa Ondieki and some of the greats to write in a book. I re-read some of their messages last night. I thought about Kerryn’s closing kilometres with the battle against the Kenywan woman as they entered the MCG and all of that history turns into strength. I so badly wanted to do Australia and my support team so proud today.”

Following Stenson in 4th place was Eloise Wellings in 2:30:51 and Sinead Diver in fifth with  2:31:06. Kenya’s Margaret Wangari Muriuki won silver while Namibia’s Helalia Johannes took bronze.

Dubbed the Aussie ‘Super Mums’ along with Stenson, Wellings and Diver put up brave efforts, only dropping from the leading pack in the second half of the race.

Legend of Australian distance running, Steve Moneghetti, was overcome with emotion at the finish line.

“That was amazing. She’s such a great great person who has worked so hard. She deserves this victory… I’m a bit emotional but it’s a great result,” the 1994 Commonwealth Games marathon gold medallist said.

“It was lovely to see her smile coming into the finish because you don’t get to enjoy a Commonwealth Games gold medal very often.. to see her enjoy the run home with a smile on her face and enjoy it, is just tremendous.”

Setting the tone earlier in the day, marathon queen Madison de Rozario added another gold medal to her growing collection, claiming the Commonwealth title in the Women’s Marathon T54/53 in 1:56:00.

The favourite for gold ahead of the event, de Rozario won by three minutes and 45 seconds ahead of her English competitor Shelly Oxley-Woods who took silver.

The course’s undulating and uneven terrain made for an excruciating race for the wheelchair athletes.

“It was a great energy out there. It was amazing to go past people’s homes and have people watch us from outside their homes and yelling from their windows. It was an unreal atmosphere. The actual course was one of the hardest marathons I’ve done in my life,” de Rozario said.

“We knew going in it was a tough course. We prepped for it - a lot of hill work going in… it was definitely tough and it was the last 7km that was the worst.”

Speaking of the sizable gap between her and Oxley-Woods:

“I’ve been in races where I’ve been behind someone who knew they had a gap and sunk in a little too much, and I would not forgive myself if I put that position. You always need to know that there are incredible athletes out there and I know that I’m lining up against athletes I have the utmost respect for. I definitely push regardless.”

Over the past year, de Rozario has become the first Australian female marathoner to win the wheelchair race at the Paralympic Games and the New York Marathon. She’ll reset for the 1500m T54 on the track in five days time.

Veteran racer Christie Dawes finished fourth in the women’s wheelchair marathon. She stopped the clock in 2:07:02 in what was her third Commonwealth Games experience.

In the men’s wheelchair race, Jake Lappin battled on to finish 5th in 1:56:21. Lappin’s appearance in the marathon was his first at a major championships since finishing 6th at Gold Coast 2018.
 
In the men’s marathon, a spirited performance by Liam Adams saw him finish in 4th place in 2:13:23 - a mere seven seconds behind bronze medallist Michael Mugo Githae from Kenya.

The 35-year-old full-time electrician won the hearts of many watching from afar after a gutsy move to the front saw him in the lead the race until the 30km mark.

After the race, Adams admitted he hadn’t the chance to develop a race plan, and in hindsight took the first half harder than he should’ve.

“I didn’t have a clue,” he told reporters.

“I was sent a map of the course but the format didn’t work on my phone, so I was just guessing and I didn’t know how many hills there were.”

Equally valiant was Games’ debutant Andy Buchanan, who crossed the line seventh in 2:15:40. The occasion was just the second time he’s attempted the distance.

Victor Kiplangat of Uganda took line honours - his country’s first Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the men’s marathon.

By Jake Stevens for Commonwealth Games Australia
Posted: 31/7/2022