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Monash goes the distance in Melbourne Marathon

12 October 2005

About 100 Monash staff, students, alumni and Monash Sport members took part in the Asics Melbourne Marathon 2005 challenge on Sunday 9 October.

Mr Gilles Gasser, from Monyx, completed his first marathon.

It was the first time a dedicated Monash team participated in the annual event.

Five Monash team members completed the full 42.2 kilometre marathon. They began by taking a bus from the city, with thousands of others, to the Frankston start line, after which they ran along the Nepean Highway, onto St Kilda Road and finished underneath the Arts Centre spire.

Mr David Collopy from Monash Sport had a great result -- finishing 67th out of 1561 participants in the marathon.

Participants also had the option of running the Melbourne Half Marathon or the 7.5 kilometre Melbourne Marafun.

About 45 team Monash members completed the Melbourne Half Marathon - the largest half marathon event in Victoria, with nearly 4000 participants.

Half of team Monash chose the Asics Melbourne Marafun, which was popular with families, as children under 16 and prams were permitted.

The university's participation in the Melbourne Marathon was coordinated by Monash Sport, as part of Monash's 2005 Community Fitness Events Program.

Monash Sport service assistant Mr David Nankervis said it was a great effort by competitors and volunteers.

"It was a great turn-out considering this was the first time Monash had entered a team in the event," Mr Nankervis said.

"It was an early start, in cold, wet and windy conditions -- but everyone was there bright and early with great attitudes.

"Mr John White - who retired as campus director of Caulfield and Peninsula in 2002, but has continued his involvement in sport at Monash - was part of the Monash team, choosing to complete the half marathon."

Monash Sport will coordinate the university's participation in the Around the Bay in a Day cycling event -- taking place this Sunday 16 October - and the Portsea Swim Classic in January 2006.

Further information is available at the Monash Sport website.