Jarrod Ausburn, winner of the 2024 Weipa Running Festival marathon, says nothing would stop him from returning to defend his title in July and is urging other runners to make the western Cape York event one of their must-do competitions for 2025. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
It is impossible to wipe the grin off Jarrod Ausburn’s face when you ask him how eager he is to defend his Weipa Running Festival (WRF) marathon crown when competitors line up for the 2025 instalment of the event on 20 July.
“As most runners do in January every year, pen goes to paper to make a plan of our key events for the new year, and right at the top of that list for me is the Weipa Running Festival,” he told Cape York Weekly.
“I’ll certainly be there with one goal in mind; Weipa legend Chrisden Russ kept me on my toes last year and no doubt he’ll be coming back hungry to take that top stop this year – game on.”
Ausburn claimed last year’s marathon – and 12 months’ worth of bragging rights – after stopping the clock in three hours, 10 minutes and 25 seconds, four minutes ahead of his “archrival” Russ over the 42.2-kilometre course.
With registrations for the 2025 WRF set to open on 5 March, Ausburn encouraged other runners to tackle the event and one of the five distances on offer, ranging from 2.5km to the full marathon.
“Name a better place to be than Weipa in July,” he said.
“Starting in the dark and getting to watch the first light spill out over the Mission River and Albatross Bay is magic, but the camaraderie between the competitors and [volunteers] is the ticket back; you won’t just leave with a medal, but a swag of new mates.”
WRF president Rose Robins said this year’s committee had grown to more than 20 members, with the Rio Tinto run club, interschool sports house competition and the Mission team events in the lead-up to race day set to whet the appetites of participants.
“We also have a few exciting additions to the event, like free yoga sessions for registered participants, course familiarisation group runs, a little bit of sport psychology and more activities planned for race day,” she said.
Ms Robins echoed Ausburn’s sentiment that it was a combination of people and the landscape that made the WRF so popular.
“The draw card for WRF is the way it brings the community together in a family-friendly, inclusive way,” she said.
“The beautiful country our event runs across is very special and can quite literally keep you on your toes in some spots; the camaraderie of all runners is strong, be it on the paths around town leading into the event or on course on race day – the running community is very special.”
For more information about the 2025 event, visit the Weipa Running Festival website.
