BENDIGO athlete Brady Threlfall achieved a long-time goal as he won yesterday’s Bendigo Bank Dragon Mile as Upwey’s Melissa Duncan won back-to-back women’s titles.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In its 27th year, the Bendigo Harriers-run athletics classic drew big fields to contest the mile dash along Pall Mall, up Mitchell Street, left at Queen Street, before a u-turn and heading on the downward stretch to Mitchell Street and long finishing straight on Pall Mall.
Racing before the Bendigo Advertiser gala parade began with the mini-mile for boys and girls in grades four-and-under, and was followed by the mile duel for grades 5-6, year 7-8, years 9-10, and the open.
Threlfall used the Dragon Mile as his final lead-up for today’s Herb Hedemann Invitation Handicap (1600m) at the Stawell Gift.
“To win a Dragon Mile is something I have wanted to do for a while,” Threlfall said.
He will pursue back-to-back wins in the Herb Hedemann Memorial, which includes Bendiog Harriers’ Josh Nolan and Michael Preece from 12.10pm today at Stawell’s Central Park.
In the Dragon Mile, Threlfall won in 4 minutes 24 seconds as Ballarat’s Jesse Fullerton, winner of the years 9-10 race a year ago, fought on to be runner-up in 4.43, ahead of Bendigo’s Jacob Nolan, 4.47, Jamie Cook, 4.48, and Luke Crameri, 4.54.
A grades 5-6 teacher at St Mary’s in Echuca, Threlfall’s winter includes the XC series run by Athletics Victoria, and the Christchurch half-marathon on June 2.
The Duncan sisters from Upwey achieved a one-two result.
Melissa won in 5.27, as older sister Katie marked her first Dragon Mile by being second in 5.27, ahead of Bendigo’s Jess Pethybridge, 6.37, Montmorency’s Kelly Hayles, 6.46, and Kangaroo Flat’s Elizabeth Guida.
Yesterday’s race was Melissa Duncan’s third start in the Mile as the 23-year-old builds up for the national 1500m and then Hong Kong Street Mile.
“It was great that Katie raced today,” Melissa said of her 24-year-old sister being in the field.
“Katie played a big part in my decision to take up athletics nine years ago.”
Among the many highs in yesterday’s racing was Elmore’s Teleah Hayes winning a Dragon Mile title for the sixth year in a row.
