by Meagan Brown

17 July 2024

The Dry Run 10km

This year the women’s field sees Michelle Cooper returning. Michelle was 2nd last year by an oh-so-close 10 seconds, where she also ran under the previous course record. It would be great to see Michelle take the win and potentially nab the course record too, which is currently held by Michaela McDonald in 55:50.

In the men’s field, speedster Luke Davison is running hot off a win in the BTU10. Luke will be hard to beat and might also be nudging the men’s course record currently held by Zac Milligan in 47:15. Luke has lots of experience on these trails, which will play in his favour.

The Big Sipper 21km

Laura Daly is the highest placed returning female athlete from last year. Laura had a stellar run placing 3rd in a very fast field and will no doubt be looking to improve.

Andy Dey will no doubt be bringing some Half-Marathon road speed and is no stranger to the trail podium either with previous wins at WECH50, BTU110, NUT100, 3rd at Guzzler 50km last year and top 10 finishes at UTA100 and Tarawera. Look out! Peter Hosking who also placed 3rd last year is back for more. As is Anthony Gordon who was 3rd in 2021. Krispin Hajkowicz was 3rd in the Dry Run 10km in 2022 and this year is stepping up to the Big Sipper. Will any of these speedy guys take a few steps up on the podium?

The Guzzler regular Rowan Cassidy is also giving the Big Sipper a crack and if his flying parkrun times are anything to go by, he should have a good day out.

The Glass Half Full 50km

The ladies race is open for the taking! Julia Farquhar has the potential to take line honours with a 7th at The Guzzler 100 last year in her debut 100k, a 6th in The Glass Half Full 50km 2022 and top 10 results at kunanyi ultra and BTU60. Elisabeth Spits who was 4th in The Big Sipper 21km in 2020 and has had a top 10 result at Noosa 20k is also taking on the 50km. Winner of the inaugural Big Sipper 21km Kate Watson is back and it will be great to see her out on the trails. Kate is running for fun, which can often lead to a magic day out. Go Kate!

It’s exciting to see La Sportiva athlete Matt Crehan lining up in the men’s race. It’s actually difficult to summarise Matt’s achievements – there are so many. Earlier this year Matt won the Cradle Mountain 80km, he is a multiple Australian representative, top 10 Lavaredo Ultra Trail finisher, has won the Buffalo 100, Buffalo Marathon AND the Buffalo 10. Matt is no stranger to Brisbane trails as a past winner of the BTU miler. With reigning 50km champion and course record holder, Ben Duffus, lining up too, it will be exciting to see whether Matt and Ben go out fast and challenge the current 4:09:36 course record. Yun Phua has been quiet on the trails for a while but it would be foolish not to mention him. Yun is a road speedster but also a previous Blackall 100 winner and has a 1st and 3rd in the Guzzler 100, as well as a 2nd at BTU60.

The Guzzler Ultra 100km

The ladies 100km is full of new faces and will be interesting to see how it unfolds. Rebecca Goad – who was 5th in The Glass Half Full 50 last year – is stepping up to the 100. Mountain Goat runner Rania Beattie is also toeing the line. Rania took 3rd at last year’s GSER 50mile and 5th at the 2022 West Macs Monster Ekistica. Local legend Maydelene Ceballos who placed 9th last year and has had a 5th in BTU60 will also be there. There is a dark horse in Trailien Donna Hyland. It’s her first 100km event, but I’m told that holy toledo she couldn’t be more fit and ready. Anything on top of getting to that finish line is icing on the cake especially in your first 100.

The men’s 100 is going to be another exciting one to watch. George Murray is lining up and with
wins at 2024 Mt. Oxford 50, 2023 Blackall 100, 2023 UTA 100 and 2023 WECH50 – he can definitely
have a great day out. George has had a solid training block, so can he beat Tim Locke’s course record from last year of 10:39:45? In the chase pack there could be Trailien Ben Millen who had 6th at The Guzzler 100km 2021. Benn Coubrough will also be running who has a 3rd at The Guzzler Ultra 100 2022 and a 15th at UTA 100km 2021. Phil Fowler is the highest returning place getter from last year where he finished 9th and lover of the long stuff Sam Weir is also running. Sam recently got 180km deep into the BVRT200 before he had achilles troubles so hopefully will be good to go come race day.