Media release – Burnie 10, 24 September 2024
Pompeani Returning for Another Bite at Burnie
Up until Sunday, she was the fastest women to ever run 10km in Australia. Now Leanne Pompeani has the motivation to run even faster at the Strait Link Burnie 10 on Sunday 27 October.
The Canberra based athlete won the 2022 edition of the event and said she was looking forward to returning for the 40th edition of Australia’s premier community running event.
“I’m back for Burnie 2024 after missing out in 2023 due to injury. I have only raced Burnie once, so I’m really excited to be back and able to run here again. I won the race in 2022, so my first Burnie 10 experience was a pretty good one. Burnie is a beautiful place and I love the way the town really gets behind this race,” Pompeani said.
Pompeani kicked on from her 2022 victory, with a gutsy run at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships and then breaking the record for the Australian all-comers record over 10km, in winning the 2023 Launceston 10 31:37. The performance took the record from Tasmanian Kylie Risk, who set the previous mark of 31:42 at Burnie in 1999.
Sadly some niggles took hold shortly after and impacted the rising star for a period of time. She then returned to national level racing with a force, dropping a 69:20 to win the Gold Coast Marathon in July against a top flight field.
On Sunday just gone, Izzi Batt-Doyle eclipsed Pompeani’s all-comers record, running 31:12 in Melbourne.
“The first half of 2024 I was struggling to find form and lacking a lot of confidence, but since June I started feeling myself again and have really enjoyed getting out and racing the road races here in Australia,” the 28 year old said.
With 39 years of world class distance running history, Pompeani knows the field will be exceptionally tough for the 40th anniversary.
“To come back and win again would mean a lot. I know it will take some serious racing to take the win, Burnie 10 always has stacked women and men’s fields. With the quality and depth of women we have now in Australia, if we get good weather conditions, we could be on for something quick,” she said.
The 2024 Strait Link Burnie 10 is on Sunday October 27. Entries are open at https://www.burnieten.com.au
