Thousands Run the Bridge

MORE than 3100 athletes of all ages have tackled the Tasman Bridge for this year’s Think Big Run The Bridge event.

On 5 March a swarm of runners left from Blundstone Arena for the 14th edition of the popular fun run, making its way through Bellerive to the bridge, across the Derwent and on to the finish line at Salamanca.

The event attracts thousands of participants and spectators to Hobart each year, with a category to suit all ages and running capabilities – from the 10km main event to a 5km walk and a 1km run for kids. This year, about 55 per cent of entrants were female.

As Australia’s richest 10km road race, the event regularly attracts some of Australia’s most elite athletes, with past winners including

Jack Rayner, Genevieve Gregson, Brett Robinson and Lisa Weightman.

With Australia hosting the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst last month, many of the world’s best athletes were already in the country.

Ugandan athletes

Prisca Chesang, Kenneth Kiprop and Dan Kibet came to Hobart and dominated the bridge run, with Kiprop (28:46) winning the men’s

10km race from Kibet (28:59) and third placed James Hansen. Chesang was the first female home, finishing 16th overall, ahead of Leanne Pompeani and Gregson. The 2023 Run The Bridge almost tripled its previous prize pool, with a revolutionary new prizemoney structure and “battle of the sexes” handicap format seeing the first person across the line take home $8000, regardless of gender.