STEVE Moneghetti crossed the city of Glasgow, running from his own press conference, to witness a historic piece in Australian marathon history at the Commonwealth Games.
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It has been 20 years since the Ballarat legend claimed marathon gold in Victoria, Canada – Australia’s last gold in the endurance event.
He caught a glimpse of Michael Shelley with the leaders, crossed a bridge to draw nearer and ran the last kilometre or so outside the course, cheering Shelley on.
“He came here on a mission and he has delivered,” said Moneghetti, the Australian team’s chef de mission.
“He took it to them (the African runners) and we don’t see that do we? We talk about the Africans and he has dropped and destroyed the Ugandans, the Tanzanians, the Kenyans behind, and he has run that race like he was the best runner and dominated it with real
front running, with conviction like he was the best runner there, like he was the boss – and he was.
“Shelley ran like he was the best runner in that race, he ran a PB at the Commonwealth Games after a silver in Delhi, that is outstanding.
“Credit to him, credit to Jess (Trengove, women’s marathon bronze), credit to Dick Telford (their coach), credit to Australian distance running.”
Shelley said that seeing and hearing Moneghetti on course was “pretty special” and he just kept trying to stay focused to the end.
