'Mona' is Coming to Cadbury


30 Sep 2010

Steve Moneghetti is an Australian sporting icon.

A four time Olympic marathoner, 'Mona' has been a household name in Australia for over a decade.

While his commitments as the Australian team 'Chef de Mission' in Delhi at the moment preclude him from being at the launch, Steve Moneghetti will be running in the Cadbury Half Marathon on Sunday January 9, 2011.

In January this year, two course records were set in the Cadbury Marathon and Cadbury Half Marathon.  As a result, these times still place the Cadbury course as the second fastest in Australia.  This news has spread around the Australian distance running scene and as a result, we are now attracting some big name runners. 

There aren't too many bigger names in Australian athletics than Mona.

As an international level athlete since the mid 1980's, some of his career highlights include;

  • Setting a world record for the half marathon in Tokyo in 1993.
  • Bronze at the 1997 World Championships in the marathon.
  • Gold, silver and bronze medals in the marathon at the Commonwealth Games.
  • 4th placing at the 1989 World Cross Country Championships.
  • Course record for the world's biggest fun run - the Sydney City 2 Surf.
  • Mayor of the Commonwealth Games Village in Melbourne, 2006.

More recently, he has been a regular on the Australian distance running scene.  Just this month he clocked 67:53 to place 4th in the Sydney Half Marathon - not bad for a man who turned 48 two days ago.

When we think of all the great runners who have taken to the streets of Hobart over the years, names like Lee Troop, Kim Gillard, Donna MacFarlane and Kylie Risk are among them.  However none of these fine athletes come as highly credentialed as Steve Moneghetti.

While his days of running personal bests may well be behind him, Mona will add great depth to the 21.1km journey.  It will provide Tasmania's top distance runners with a chance to get dragged around to personal best times.  Names like David Thomas, Andy Allison and Brian Lyons will be in their element as they form a lead pack surrounded by the great man.  - Andy Allison, who is one of Tasmania's leading distance runner joins us here today and is available for interviews in a moment.

Other news that the Cadbury Marathon has to share, is the incorporation of two exciting new ventures.

1)     Cadbury Marathon has partnered with three-time Olympian (and Hobart Run the Bridge winner) Lee Troop to offer complementary 14 week training programs to all entrants in the Cadbury Marathon.  The programs are tailored towards your goal time, with personal input from Troop, regardless of your ability.  Using the innovative Marathon Guru tool, which predicts your race time based on your training progress, it also alerts runners to when they need new shoes, to avoid injury.

2)     Everyday Heroes has also joined forces with the 2011 Cadbury Marathon, to offer participants the chance to do their own fundraising.  While the Clown Doctors remain as the official charity of the Cadbury Marathon, participants will now be able to build their own fundraising webpage from more than 100 charities of their choice. They can then share this around on twitter, facebook and email.

The Cadbury Marathon will also continue to be the Tasmanian marathon and half marathon championships.  We are also pleased to announce that following a successful first year, the Australian Masters Half Marathon will also be incorporated with the 2011 event.

The date for the 2011 Cadbury Marathon is Sunday January 9.  Entries are now open at www.cadburymarathon.com.au.