The eyes of the athletics nation turned to the north-west coast of Tasmania for the Australian 10km Road Running Championships on Sunday morning, where Adam Goddard and Leanne Pompeani delivered commanding displays to claim national titles at the Burnie 10.
Goddard’s Golden Stretch
In cool, blustery conditions, Adam Goddard quickly made his intentions clear, taking control of the race after Irish Olympian Brian Fay injected early pace. The 22-year-old South Australian began to stretch the field well before the halfway mark, and when the pressure came late from Ed Marks, Goddard’s trademark finish proved the difference, surging clear to claim victory in 28:36, just one second ahead.
The victory continues a remarkable purple patch for Goddard, who just a fortnight earlier had dominated the Melbourne Marathon Festival 10km, clocking 28:40 to win by more than a minute.
“That was really hard. We got to like seven kilometres and I just thought the slower it is, the better it is for me because I back my kick. It was good fun!” Goddard said.
“It’s super special. I was pretty good as a junior but had a few rough years there — the sport can be cruel at times. To find this form again means so much, and the emotions just come over me every time I cross the line.” 
For Marks, it was a strong return after a frustrating stint sidelined by a shin-splint injury that forced him out of August’s Australian Cross Country Championships, where he had been the hot favourite. His silver-medal run of 28:37 bodes well for the summer season ahead. Fellow Victorian Matthew Buckell completed the national podium in 29:01, while Ireland’s Fay placed third overall in 28:47.
Pompeani Doubles Up
Fresh off her Sydney Marathon run in August where she took out the national title, Leanne Pompeani added another national title to her growing resume, taking out the women’s 10km crown in 31:46 — just six seconds shy of her own course record from last year.
Pompeani’s dominance was clear from the opening kilometre as she surged ahead of a star-studded field that included Olympians Genevieve Gregson and Sinead Diver. She finished a full minute ahead of rising star, national cross country champion Bronte Oates in 32:46, with Holly Campbell rounding out the podium in 33:02.
“Back-to-back, I can’t complain! I can complain about being so close to the course record but that’s alright,” Pompeani laughed.
Pompeani’s victory caps a stellar stretch across both road and marathon distances. “It always means a lot, especially over the road 10k — they’re probably my favourite races to run. To have both the 10k and marathon Australian titles is pretty good,” she said.
Gregson Building Toward Valencia
Genevieve Gregson continued her steady climb back to top form, finishing among the leading Australians with a run of 33:36. After clocking 34:38 over 10km at September’s Run Prix and 73:47 for the half marathon at the Melbourne Marathon Festival, Gregson has set her sights firmly on December’s Valencia Marathon, where she’ll look to convert her racing rhythm into a strong marathon performance.
Whelan and Heynes Impress in Valencia Half Marathon
Across the globe, Australian distance running also made waves at the Valencia Half Marathon, where former professional cyclist James Whelan clocked a stunning 61:37 to finish 22nd, just ahead of compatriot Isaac Heynes, who ran 62:13 for 25th.
Whelan, 29, raced professionally as a road cyclist from 2018 to 2024, including a start at the Giro d’Italia, before transitioning now back to running. His debut marks him as an emerging force over the half marathon, and with his deep endurance base, potentially the marathon.
The men’s race was won by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha in 58:02, his seventh career sub-60 performance, while Great Britain’s Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee impressed with a 61:29 run for 19th place. In the women’s race, Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich delivered the third-fastest half marathon in history, clocking 63:08, narrowly missing the world record.
Results Summary
- Burnie 10 (Men): 1. Adam Goddard 28:36; 2. Ed Marks 28:37; 3. Matthew Buckell 29:01; (Overall 3rd: Brian Fay (IRL) 28:47)
- Burnie 10 (Women): 1. Leanne Pompeani 31:46; 2. Bronte Oates 32:46; 3. Holly Campbell 33:02
- Valencia Half Marathon (Men): 1. Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 58:02; 22. James Whelan (AUS) 61:37; 25. Isaac Heynes (AUS) 62:13
- Valencia Half Marathon (Women): 1. Agnes Ngetich (KEN) 63:08
