The Tropical Journeys Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival has attracted yet another Olympian with London Olympics Marathon representative Jess Trengove joining Steve Moneghetti, Pat Carroll and Craig Mottram at this year’s event in Port Douglas on the 1st November.

Jess Trengove’s Marathon career began three years ago in Nagoya Japan qualifying for the London Olympics in which she finished 39th.

Prior to arriving in Port Douglas in November, Trengove would have competed in the Melbourne Marathon aiming to qualify for the Rio Olympics.  With her training schedule on track, her sights are set on qualifying.

“I was fortunate to start my marathon-specific training phase with a block of altitude training in Arizona earlier this year which helped me to develop a strong fitness base.

“I am confident in the program I have been set by my coach, Adam Didyk and in the team that I work with. Provided that I achieve quality and consistency in my training, prepare appropriately for the course and conditions and remain healthy, I believe that a qualifying performance for Rio is achievable,” said Trengove.

Trengove will be running the Newsport 10km event while still recovering from the Melbourne Marathon.

Local champion, Nick Carling was thrilled when he heard the news.

“This year’s 10km Newsport Championship is going to be amazing.  With Craig Mottram and Jess Trengove in the field this is not going to be a quiet stroll along Four Mile Beach - that’s for sure.  What a challenge and an amazing opportunity for local runners to compete with Olympians,” said Carling.

With four Olympians gracing our shores for this year’s event, the entries continue to stream in with organisers confident they can get close to the 2,000 participant mark.

“It is an honour to join the likes of Steve, Craig and Pat as an Ambassador for this wonderful event. I love that there is an emphasis on helping to protect the Great Barrier Reef - a part of nature that I can't wait to see. I look forward to meeting and joining the other competitors in what I am sure will be a challenging but also very scenic run,” said Ms Trengove.

A portion of funds from this year’s Tropical Journeys Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival goes towards two new JCU projects dealing with the crown of thorn starfish and micro plastics.

To find out more or register for an event, book a discounted reef trip or raise funds for JCU reef research visit: greatbarrierreefmarathon.com.au