Marathon effort makes Jess our best in 2017

IN just her ninth marathon, Adelaide runner Jess Trengove recorded the best-ever finish by an Australian woman at the world championships. Her gritty performance has landed her The Advertiser/Channel 7 Sport Star of the Year for 2017.

Long-distance runner Jessica Trengove is The Advertiser/Channel 7 Sport Star of the Year for 2017. Picture: Simon Cross

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JESS Trengove started marathon running by chance in 2012 and five years later has created history.

The 30-year-old South Australian travelled to London in July where she recorded the best-ever finish by an Australian woman in the marathon at the world championships.

Trengove became the first to crack the top-10 where she ran a time of 2hrs 28mins to finish ninth among the best field in the toughest event on the IAAF program.

Her gritty performance has seen her named The Advertiser/Channel 7 Sport Star of the Year for 2017.

Australia's Jessica Trengove, left, during the marathon at the IAAF World Championships in London this year. Picture: AFP Photo / Ben Stansall

It was the ninth marathon of Trengove’s career and has put her right in gold medal contention for next year’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Trengove ran her first marathon in Japan in 2012 after a chance meeting with Australian great Robert De Castella who suggested she make the step up from half-marathon distance.

She has since competed at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics as well as the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games where she won a bronze medal.

But it was her ninth place finish at the world champs this year against the might of powerhouse runners from Kenya and Ethiopia that she truly announced herself as a force on the world stage.

It was the second marathon Trengove ran in London this year after she finished 10th in personal best time of 2 hours and 27 minutes in April and said she wasn’t planning on going back in July.

“I crossed the line in April thinking I was probably going to focus on another major later in the year, but I crossed the line and thought ‘I love this city and I love running for my country’,” Trengove said.

“I just had this urge to run for Australia again this year, my body felt all right so we were like, it’s 15 weeks, let’s do it, and I am so grateful we made that decision.

Trengove crosses the finish line in the Women's Marathon Final at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Picture: Brett Costello

Trengove and Australian teammate Milly Clark embrace after the marathon at the Rio Olympics. Picture: Brett Costello

“This was the first marathon race where I felt I could respond to the surges and be in control.

“One of my proudest moments in the race was just before half way and the pack started getting away from me, a few people were out there and I heard them yelling out that I had to stay with that pack.

“I had to push a bit more than I would like to at that point to get back on them but it was the best thing I did because once you’re moving with that pack it’s a lot easier, you go with the flow.

“If I didn’t push beyond my comfort zone at that point it could have been a very different result.”

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THE ADVERTISER/CHANNEL 7 SPORT STAR OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

Sports Star of the Year — Jess Trengove (athletics)

Team of the Year — Adelaide Crows AFLW (Aussie rules)

People’s Choice — Scott Thulborn (lawn bowls)

Tanya Denver Award — Sam Willoughby (BMX)

Elite Athlete with a Disability — Brayden Davidson (athletics)

The Advertiser/Channel 7 Sport Star of the Year for 2017 Jessica Trengove pictured at Garden Island. Picture by Matt Turner.

SPORT SA AWARD WINNERS

Volunteer of the Year Award — Graeme Gilbert (netball)

Official of the Year — Simon Fry (cricket)

Administrator of the Year — Clare Harris (surf fife saving)

Richard Newman Primary School Sports Award — Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz (tennis)

Secondary School Sports Award — Alexandra Chidiac (soccer)

Country Athlete of the Year — Simon Hockey (croquet)

Coach of the Year — Bec Goddard (Crows AFLW)

Community Event of the Year — Sellicks Beach Historic Motorcycle Races

Major Event of the Year — ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Golf Open

Marg Ralston Golden Door Award — Wendy Ey (athletics)