Thousands of participants run up Batman Ave to Flinders St at the start of the Melbourne Marathon. Source: News Limited
RECORDS have fallen in today's Melbourne Marathon as thousands of runners took to the city's streets.
Kenyan competitor Dominic Ondoro was first to cross the finish line, completing the 42km event in a course record time of 2:10:47.
Runners Anna Pattison and Dan Ioannidis finished the half Marathon. Source: Facebook
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Aussie Olympian and hometown girl Lisa Weightman, the daughter of former Fitzroy footballer Peter Weightman and cousin of Richmond great Dale Weightman, broke the record in the women's event.
The 34-year-old clocked a blitzing 2:26.05 - more than six minutes quicker than the old record - and claimed $35,000 in prizemoney.
Weightman, who lives in Preston and usually trains around Princes Park, was delighted with the support she had out on the course and at the MCG finish.
"Just running into the 'G was an amazing experience," she said.
"The best feeling was to cross the finish line and my nephew (Thomas, 7) jumped the fence and came out and gave me a big hug.''
While Ondoro planned to celebrate with a cup of tea and a trip to McDonald's, Weightman was off to have lunch with her family.
"I'm very Australian, so I'm happy to have a beer or two.''
Weightman's time is also a qualifier for next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Competitors turn at Flinders Street Station during the Melbourne Marathon. Source: News Limited
Another local, Essendon's Liam Adams was sixth on debut in 2:14.09, which also virtually ensures he will represent Australia in Glasgow.
Australia Zoo vet Mel Panayiotou was the surprise performer of the day finishing third female in 2:41.48.
Panayiotou, who is self-trained and has never run a marathon before, performed surgery on an 80-year-old crocodile last week.
Runners took to social media to post their success and the sights. Picture: Supplied Source: Instagram
Indigenous runner Emma Cameron, who was taking part in the Boston Marathon when two bombs exploded in April, was among others to cross the finish line.
Marathon icon Robert de Castella helped her prepare for the event.
Soon after the winners had finished, a huge downpour gave the majority of the Australian marathon record 6830 finishers an unwanted drinks break.
The deluge also forced organisers to reduce the 5.7km run to just 3km because of flooding around Swan St Bridge.
But by then the half marathon and 10km fields had completed their event and two more race records fell to Box Hill's Nikki Chapple (71.23) and Kenyan Wilfred Murgor (61.57) in the 21.1km event.
Winners - Dominic Ondoro (2:10:47) and Lisa Weightman (2:26.05) Source: HeraldSun
Marathon great Steve Moneghetti was fourth in the 10km event in 31.27 and his time was an unofficial world record time for a 51-year-old.
Competition director Tim Crosbie said there would be no shortage of sore bodies tonight.
"All the hard work is coming to fruition today,'' he said.
"There's a lot of satisfied but tired people."
The marathon, first held in 1978, raises money for the Cerebral Palsy Education Centre.
Runners flood the city at the start of the Melbourne Marathon. Source: News Limited
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