For the sub elites it’s also been the race to come and produce a lifetime best, with loaded fields, a pancake flat course and being early in the winter providing the ideal ingredients to produce super quick times.
The ingredients are there once again for 2022 with bumper fields ready to produce the goods.
Headlining the women’s field is dual Olympic finalist and 2015 race winner Eloise Wellings, with a personal best of 31:14.
The 39 year old has transitioned more to the roads in recent years, trying her hand at the marathon. She debuted in London back in October, before finishing second to Milly Clark at Melbourne in December. Her breakthrough marathon performance came in March this year, when she ran 2:25:10 to rocket up to 4th on the Australian all time listing.
“I always love coming to Tassie to race! The McGrath Launceston Running Festival offers a fast course, a fabulous running community and the perfect little hit out for me whilst I’m mid marathon training. Can’t wait,” Wellings said.
Two-time Commonwealth Games marathon bronze medallist Jess Stenson (nee Trengove) also returns. A regular on the Tasmanian road running scene, Stenson is near to career best form having clocked a 2:25:15 lifetime best marathon in October and will be hungry for a win on the East Tamar Highway.
The pair will be joined by in-form Leanne Pompeani and Natalie Rule. Pompeani carried a PB of 32:26, but showed form better than that at last month’s Sydney 10. While Rule was fearless over the summer season clocking best times over 3000m, 5000m, 10km and half marathon, including 2nd place in the Think Big Run The Bridge and a World Championships qualifier of 15:06 over 5000m.
Rio 5000m Olympian Sam McEntee starts favourite in the men’s race. Now under the guidance of Collis Birmingham, the Victorian has returned to top form in 2022 and is chasing a win on his first road outing in Tasmania.
“I’m excited to be finally racing in Launceston. It was meant to be my debut half and first race post Covid in December 2020. Training has been going well and with the field assembled the course record may be in danger,” McEntee declared.
McEntee may be the highest credentialled, but the 30 year old will be a watched man as 15 men with career bests of under 30minutes will be hot on his tail. Not afraid to lead races and push the pace, the former Villanova College athlete clearly has the course record of 28:37 in his sights, which dates back to year one with Mark Tucker setting the mark.
Kieran Tall and Kieran Perkins (not the former swimmer) return to the race with bests under 29 minutes. In form locals James Hansen and Sam Clifford could be looking to use their finishing speed to produce what could be a career highlight if they were to get up, as no Tasmanian has won the race yet.
Para world record holder Michael Roeger also returns to the course where he ran a road PB o 29:40 last year, along with Tim Vincent who is fresh off a fast half marathon in Italy of 61:43.
Full elite fields for the Launceston 10 on June 12 are;
10KM MEN
NAME / PB
Sam McEntee / 28.17
Kieran Tall / 28.55
Kieren Perkins / 28.57
James Hansen / 29.17
Adrian Potter / 29.20
Liam Boudin / 29.22
Archie Reid / 29.22
Tim Vincent / 29.22
Nathan Stoate / 29.30
Sam Clifford / 29.33
Riley Cocks / 29.39
Michael Roeger / 29.40
Brady Threlfall / 29.48
Bradley Croker / 29.48
Jacob Cocks / 29.55
Bailey Murzecki-Hince / 30.04
Michael Marantelli / 30.11
Harrison Bagley / 30.43
Zac Newman / 30.47
Matt Davy / 30.48
Luke Mitchell / 30.56
Liam Werrett / 31.00
Lachlan Scott / 31.07
Tim Fisk / 31.18
Phil McConnon / 31.33
Drew Williams / 31.36
Tim Barnett / 31.50
Cam Clohesy / 32.19
Peter Bracken / 32.56
Finn Johnson / 32.58
Sam Kohne / 33.16
Ned Verwey / 33.18
Gabe Dennison / 33.26
Lachie Edwards / 33.30
Derrick Leahy / 33.32
Glenn McMillan / 33.36
Daniel James / 33.40
Lukas Pilkington / 34.00
Oscar Bloomfield / 34.08
Logan Janetzki / Debut
Will Garbelotto / Debut
Josh Lynott / Debut
Michael McKeown / Debut
Max Savill-Bentley / Debut
WOMEN / PB
Eloise Wellings / 31.14
Leanne Pompeani / 32.26
Jess Stenson / 32.40
Natalie Rule / 32.46
Melanie Daniels / 34.00
Jess Pascoe / 34.04
Nadine Roulston / 34.14
Simone McInnes / 34.47
Sophie Hlipala / 35.45
AuraLea Fain / 35.58
Brooke Hines / 36.00
Shania Murray / 36.25
Megan Tumminello / 39.08
Louise Arnott / 40.30
Ali Colgan / Debut