Donna Named Top Australian Distance Runner for 2008


11 Feb 2009

Beijing Olympian Donna MacFarlane has been honoured by being named the 2008 Run For Your Life (R4YL) Australian Distance Runner of the Year.

 

2008 was a stunning year for the Hobart based athlete, topped off by an Oceania record in the 3000m Steeplechase, when placing third at the Oslo Golden League in June.  MacFarlane also finished 2008 as the 8th fastest in the world at her pet event.  “I had a brilliant first half of the year and I achieved my main goal of breaking the Australian record,” said MacFarlane after a training run in Hobart.

 

Her list of victories included the World Athletics Tour meeting in Melbourne, the Olympic Selection Trials in Brisbane and the World Athletics Tour meeting in Doha.  She rounded the season out with a 7th placing at the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart.

 

R4YL is Australia’s premier magazine for distance running and its annual list takes into account performances 800m and above, from a combination of track, cross country and road races.  Coming in second on the women’s list was 1500m national record holder Sarah Jamieson, while world indoor 800m champion Tamsyn Lewis claimed third.  Topping the men’s list for 2008 was distance great, Craig Mottram.  “The other nine names on the list are all very accomplished runners, so it’s great to be on top of it for 2008,” MacFarlane added.

 

MacFarlane’s next race outing will be the Bridgewater Mile next Thursday, followed by the World Athletics Tour meeting in Melbourne, then Australian Championships in Brisbane after which her international plans will be decided for 2009.  “Looking ahead now to 2009, I feel encouraged that I can look forward to more great performances,” she said.

 

R4YL top Australian distance runners for 2008;

Women

1)    Donna MacFarlane

2)    Sarah Jamieson

3)    Tamsyn Lewis

4)    Benita Johnson

5)    Kate Smyth

6)    Lisa Weightman

7)    Anna Thompson

8)    Lara Tamsett

9)    Victoria Mitchell

10) Lisa Corrigan

 

Men

1)    Craig Mottram

2)    Youcef Abdi

3)    Martin Dent

4)    Collis Birmingham

5)    Mark Tucker

6)    Michael Shelley

7)    Scott Westcott

8)    David McNeill

9)    Lachlan Renshaw

10) Andrew Letherby