Stenson wins Commonwealth Games Gold in a history making race

Published Wed 10 Aug 2022

Photographs: Athletics Australia / Steve Christo. See more pictures below.

By Jake Stevens for Commonwealth Games Australia and Josh Teakle, Athletics SA
Posted: 31/7/2022

South Australian multi-Olympian Jessica Stenson (nee Trengove) won her first Commonwealth Games Gold Medal in Saturday's (July 30) Marathon in Birmingham, England.

In her third Commonwealth Games Marathon Stenson headed into the race - which took place at from 7pm AEST on Saturday night - with two Bronze Medals to her name (from the 2014 Glasgow and 2018 Gold Coast Games), but she became the first female athlete to win three Commonwealth Marathon medals with a 29-second win over Kenya's Margaret Wangari Muriuki.

Stenson crossed the line in 2:27:31 with husband Dylan and two-year-old son Billy watching on.

Find the full results and Commonwealth Games event schedule here

She is coached by SA's Adam Didyk and represents the Hills Districts Athletics Club.

“I saw it was mine with one kilometre to go," Stenson told Commonwealth Games Australia post race.

"I was trying to juggle being excited and soaking it in, with concentrating and not tripping over. These roads can be uneven and just one little stumble and I’d land flat on my face and not get up again, so I just had to deliver myself to the finish line.

“I feel really content. I’m proud of my team. We got to have a good hug at the finish. We did this together today. This Medal is certainly not just mine, I want all of the girls (compatriots Sinead Diver and Eloise Wellings) to feel like they’re wearing it because we did that together.”

Australia’s first female Commonwealth Games Marathon champion since the late Kerryn McCann at Melbourne 2006, Stenson said it was the legacy of the greats that spurred her on to the finish line.

“I was thinking of Kerryn out there. In 2014, my coach (Adam Didyk) asked Steve Moneghetti, Lisa Ondieki and some of the greats to write in a book. I re-read some of their messages last night. I thought about Kerryn’s closing kilometres with the battle against the Kenywan woman as they entered the MCG and all of that history turns into strength. I so badly wanted to do Australia and my support team so proud today," Stenson said.

Australia's Eloise Wellings finished fourth in 2:30:51 and Sinead Diver finished fifth with 2:31:06, while Kenya’s Margaret Wangari Muriuki won silver while Namibia’s Helalia Johannes took bronze.

Australia's Madison de Rozario won the Women's T54/53 Marathon event in 1:56:00.

South Australia's Isobel Batt-Doyle (Flinders Athletics Club, coach - Riley Cocks/Nic Bideau) will make her Commonwealth Games debut on Wednesday, August 3, running the Women's 10,000 at the Alexander Stadium.

The World Athletics U20 Championships gets underway in Colombia tomorrow (August 1), with SA's Marley Raikiwasa (Discus), Darcy Miller (Discus), Olivia Sandery (10,000m Walk) and Aidan Murphy (200m and 4X100m Relay) representing Australia.

Raikiwasa of the Tea Tree Gully Athletics Centre will be the first South Australian to suit up for her country at the Championships, with her Women's Discus Qualifying to be held on Day 1.

Fresh off his debut at the World Athletics Championships in the USA last week, Murphy will run his Heat of the Men's 200m on Day 3, while he is also listed in the Men's 4X100m Relay team which will run on Day 4.

Sandery and Miller will have to wait until Day 5 to compete.

Sandery's Women's 10,000m Race Walk will take place at 8:30am (local time) on Day 5, while Miller's Men's Discus Qualifying is also scheduled for the Morning of Day 5.

Find the full timetable here