WA ATHLETES IMPRESS AT SOLD OUT PERTH RUNNING FESTIVAL
Published Thu 12 Oct 2023
Over 10,000 keen runners pounded the pavement on Sunday for the 2023 Perth Running Festival. The runners were treated to warm weather and a beautiful course that showcased some of Perth’s best landscapes, including the Swan River, the Matagarup Bridge and Optus Stadium.
WA athletes Matthew Ramsden and Kate Baker lead the way with impressive gold medals in the Half Marathon, while Dean Menzies claimed a silver medal in the Men’s Marathon.
Matthew Ramsden returned to competition in WA following a 12th place finish in the Road Mile at the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships in Latvia. Ramsden looked impressive on home soil as he took out the win in the Men’s Half Marathon, with the Perth Track & Field athlete just missing out on the State Record, crossing the line in 1:04:11. Ramsden was joined on the podium by Athletics West members Luke Burrows and Matt Smith. Burrows clinched silver in 1:06:12 with Smith collecting bronze in 1:07:00.
There was strong representation in Women’s Half Marathon as well with recent Australian Marathon Bronze medallist Kate Baker collecting the win. After making her WA state team debut at the Sydney Marathon last month, Baker sped home to claim a spectacular gold medal in a time of 1:19:23. Athletics West member Astrid Roberts joined Baker on the podium, clinching a silver medal with a time of 01:20:06.
After winning a hard-fought silver medal at the Australian Marathon Championships last month, Dean Menzies led the way for the WA Athlete’s in the Marathon. Menzies fell short of claiming the top step on the podium with Kenya’s Samuel Ekutan winning the race, with the West Australian crossing the line in 2:29:19.
Other highlights from the 2023 Perth Running Festival included Athletics West Members Nera Jareb, Karen Blaney and Debbie Donald securing spots on the podium in the Women’s 10km race, whilst Finnian Emmett claimed a bronze in a tight Men’s 10km.
To round out the competition, the Men’s 4km Dash was stacked with Athletics West members, as Thomas Moorcroft, Luke Graves and Lachlan Bennett sped through the course to claim the top three spots. There was a similar result in the Women’s 4km, with Sian Munks, Ava Daebritz and Ellie Glands all emerging victorious and scoring the top three spots of the podium respectively.
To find complete results from the 2023 Perth Running Festival, click HERE.
You can follow all athletics action via the Athletics West Facebook and Instagram pages.
For more information on how you can get involved in athletics, contact Athletics West on 08 6272 0480 or via admin@athleticswest.com.au.
By Dylan Gane, Athletics West
Posted on 12 October 2023
