Melbourne Marathon 2018: 34,500 runners take part in course

THE biggest ever field of runners and walkers hit the streets for the Medibank Melbourne Marathon on a sunny Sunday morning that saw around 35,000 spectators mob the inner city to cheer on the participants.

THE biggest ever field of runners and walkers hit the streets for the Medibank Melbourne Marathon on a sunny Sunday morning.

In its 41st year the event attracted 34,500 entrants across the five different distances — 5000 more than last year.

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Major roads were blocked off in the city and St Kilda as several tram routes were detoured for the marathon that started at Batman Ave and finished with a lap of the MCG.

Chaos on St Kilda Road as the marathon comes to a bottle neck and grinds everyone to a walk. The runners go rogue and swarm upon the oncoming tram. #melbmara pic.twitter.com/74BD4U6dTs

— Nick Weaser (@nickweaser) October 13, 2018

An estimated crowd of about 35,000 spectators watched on along the route, organisers said.

Former footy player Kane Cornes and Channel 9 presenters Tony Jones and Brodie Harper were among those to lace up their running shoes and take on the course.

At the front of the field, the men’s marathon winner was Australian Liam Adams with a time of 2.15.13.

In second place was Dominic Ondoro from Kenya in 2.16.55 and third was fellow Kenyan William Chebon Chebor with 2.18.05.

Paralympian Michael Roeger broke the world record in the T46 (arm amputated category) and finished 6th overall with a time of 2:23.31.

@JarydClifford caught up with @michaelroeger after he broke the T46 (arm amp) marathon world record this morning in Melbourne.

Video courtesy of VTwo@AUSParalympics @Paralympics pic.twitter.com/owaVc7cUKU

— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) October 13, 2018

The top three fastest women were all Australians; Sinead Diver taking out the race with a personal best of 2:25.19 ahead of Rochelle Rodgers with 2.47.05 and Erchana Murray-Bartlett with 2.54.11.

A beautiful spring morning greeted this years Melbourne Marathon 30,000 plus entrants. Half Melbourne Marathon entrants head of Batman Ave towards Flinders Street. Picture: Sarah Matray

Entrants run across The Princess Bridge. Picture: Sarah Matray

Uber runners. Picture: Sarah Matray

Runners. Picture: Sarah Matray

It was clear skies and a temperature of about 22 degrees as the top runners crossed the finish line about 9.15am. The day is due to heat up to a top of 27 degree, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

All roads are due to be reopened by 1pm.

By Sunday morning, the event had already raised more than $1 million for entrants’ chosen charities.

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