- Julian Spence stopped to help a struggling runner
- Spence helped the man across the finish line
In an incredible act of selflessness, Australian champion long-distance runner Julian Spence has sacrificed his finish to help a fellow runner at the Melbourne Marathon.
Spence, 38, was in the final stretch of Sunday’s race when he saw Michael Barney, who was finishing a half marathon, struggling to stay upright.
Spence sprang into action and helped Barney stay upright as the pair crossed the finish line together.
Medical staff were on hand to care for Barney, who spent an hour recovering in a medical tent after the event.
“Super grateful,” Barney said afterwards.
‘After he carried me across the line, he even stopped my Garmin [fitness tracker]. Legend.’
Barney’s partner, Cayla Demske, added: “That’s my partner – very grateful that someone helped him to the finish line.”
Champion Aussie runner Julian Spence (in the pink top) interrupted his finish to help a struggling racer
Spence (pictured, left) sprang into action to help a runner who was struggling to stay upright
Elsewhere, Genevieve Gregson claimed her first marathon victory, two months after taking part in the event at the Paris Olympics.
The Queenslander won the Melbourne Marathon on Sunday in two hours, 28 minutes and 13 seconds, beating local Sarah Klein by almost three minutes. Kate Mason, also from Melbourne, completed the women’s podium in 2:34:08.
Genevieve’s husband Ryan Gregson finished second in the men’s race behind Jack Rayner, who clocked a time of 2:11:49 after winning the Melbourne half marathon for the past three years.
Gregson finished in 2:13:31 to take another step in his transition from the middle-distance events, while New Zealander Christopher Dryden took third place in 2:18:10.
It was the first time that the two winners had run the full distance in Melbourne.
Queenslander Genevieve Gregson claimed her first marathon victory on Sunday
Paris was Genevieve’s third marathon and she clocked a time of 2:29:56 for 24th place at the Games, having run on the track at the previous three Olympics.
The 46th Melbourne Marathon Festival attracted 42,000 runners, with Bendigo’s Andy Buchanan winning the men’s half marathon in 1:01:42, having also run the marathon at the Paris Games.
Leanne Pompeani from Canberra took part in the women’s race, posting a time of 1:09:01 in a thrilling finish.
Adelaide’s Jess Stenson, one of Gregson’s teammates at the Paris Olympics, was just two seconds behind Pompeani in second place.
Just eight seconds separated first and third place, with Paris Olympics 5000m runner Izzi Batt-Doyle and fellow Adelaide competitor Izzi Batt-Doyle completing the podium.