There was plenty of fire in the belly for Western Athletics Jack Rayner as he claimed his first Melbourne Marathon title.
It was the first time in five years that Rayner had completed his marathon. His last attempt at the 2020 Olympics ended after 10 kilometres through injury.
His 2024 Olympic campaign was also derailed by injury. He missed the 5000 metres by one spot and was a few spots out of the 10,000 metres event.
That mattered little as Rayner crossed the finish line at the MCG in 2:11:49 to win the Melbourne Marathon.
“It was a good one back, it’s been five years since I last ran one,” he said. “I’ve been wanting to come back and do one for a while, but it was finding one that fit my schedule with doing all the training.”
Rayner was no stranger to the Melbourne Marathon event. He had won the past three half marathon races.
The Tan and Beach Road, which are part of the track, are part of his regular training routes.
“I was familiar with it and it helped a lot,” he said, “My brother, girlfriend and mum were on bikes going around the track which I was grateful for.”
Rayner said he wasn’t too worried about the time that he recorded it was about getting a race under his belt.
He finished 43 seconds outside his personal best time.
Rayner, who grew up in Altona, said for him the opportunity to get back out and race was good after the heartbreak of missing the Olympics.
The Melbourne Marathon was his second race back.
“I was unfortunate to get injured six weeks before the Olympics this year,” he said. “It was pretty disappointing not to go there.
“I missed the five kilometres by just one spot. I used that disappointment and tried to use it as fire.
“I had almost six weeks off and then back training.”
With the marathon success fresh in his mind, Rayner has some decisions to make about his future.
The plan was always to go back to running the marathon, but it was a matter of when.
“I’m still figuring it out,” he said. “I might come back a bit sooner .
“A lot more people relate to the marathon than on the track. I’ve still got the 10 kilometre championships in December.
“I think I’ll have to decide after that. At this stage I’ll do a marathon in April. Most marathon runners don’t peak until around their mid-30s.”
Rayner will enter On Zatopek:10 as one of the favourites. He has won the event, which doubles as the 10 kilometre championship, the past three years.
“Winning it once means a lot,” he said. “Backing up each year to compete.
“If i’m fit and healthy always up for it
“It’s one of the events the community around Australia gets involved in and it’s about performing when it counts.”
