It was a night for milers at the Victorian 5000m Championships at Box Hill, with Sarah Billings and Lachlan Herd claiming line honours.
Billings, who has a 4:09 1500m personal best from last summer, was making her debut over 5000m on the track. The 24-year-old ran patiently in a lead back that gradually decreased in size and only took the lead down the final straight, passing 2019 world championship representative Melissa Duncan, who had made a strong run for home with 300m remaining.

Billings clocked 16:33.82 to Duncan’s 16:34.70, while Rachel McGuinness claimed bronze in 16:40.48, having led the field for much of the final stages of the race.
The men’s race was a tactical affair in the early stages with a large field in contention. At the pointy end of the race it was 3:44 1500m runner, Lachlan Herd, who came to the fore, proving too strong for visiting Queenslander Liam Boudin to win in 14:11.21. Boudin clocked 14:11.85 while Dale Carroll (14:12.27) and Craig Appleby (14:12.89) claimed the minor medals in the Victorian titles.

The junior men’s race was taken out by Charlie Rogers, who wound up the race from a pace that was initially just under 16 minutes for the distance, to win by 13 seconds in 15:04.47. Jhye Hadfield (15:17.68) and Aidan Velten (15:19.81) filled the podium.
The junior women’s race saw 14-year-old Piper Gay record a strong front-running victory in a time of 17:17.26, with Fieke Van Der Kamp (17:33.41) and Imogen Baker (18:07.41) taking silver and bronze in a race held in conjunction with the women’s B race.
Photo Gallery
149 photos from the Victorian 5000m Championships are available in our photo gallery.
Free high res download when you subscribe to our mailing list.
Need new spikes?
Australia’s largest range. Fast & free delivery nation-wide.
Latest articles:
- Inside Track: Weekly Recap (30 July 2025): From Moscow Memories to Tokyo TestsIn this edition of Inside Track, we revisit the athlete-led fight that kept Australia in the 1980 Olympics, learn of Darren Clark’s rise, fall and redemption, unpack the financial fallout rocking Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track league, and look ahead to the World Championships with new eligibility rules making waves. Plus, a 16-year-old Japanese sprinter breaks… Read more: Inside Track: Weekly Recap (30 July 2025): From Moscow Memories to Tokyo Tests
- Australia Strikes Gold at World University GamesAustralia’s track and field squad delivered a standout performance at the 2025 FISU World University Games, finishing atop the athletics medal table after a golden final day in Bochum, Germany. With five golds, two silvers and three bronzes across seven days of competition, it was the Australia’s most successful World University Games campaign, and a… Read more: Australia Strikes Gold at World University Games
- Ed Marks streaks to victory at Lakeside10Ed Marks continued his exceptional road form with a dominant win at the 2025 Lakeside10, clocking 28:55 to take out the men’s title in a fast and deep field. Backing up recent strong performances, including a runaway win at the Victoria Cross Country titles in Ballarat and a slick 13:54 performance at the Lakeside5, Marks proved once again… Read more: Ed Marks streaks to victory at Lakeside10
- Leanne Pompeani wins Harbour 10 amid Sydney Marathon preparationsLeanne Pompeani added another win to her resume on Sunday, claiming victory in the women’s 10K at the 2025 Real Insurance Harbour 10, just five weeks out from her biggest challenge yet — the TCS Sydney Marathon, where she’ll line up in place of competing for Australia at the World Championships in Tokyo. Clocking 32:27, Pompeani led home… Read more: Leanne Pompeani wins Harbour 10 amid Sydney Marathon preparations
- Inside Track: Weekly Wrap (23 July 2025 edition)Welcome to the first edition of Inside Track — your curated wrap of the biggest stories in athletics from across Australia and around the globe. Each week, we’ll scan the headlines, cut through the noise, and bring you the must-read articles that matter — from record-breaking performances to governance shakeups, broadcast moves, and the latest… Read more: Inside Track: Weekly Wrap (23 July 2025 edition)