The 2025 Anaconda Whitsunday Trail Festival was a sell-out success, with all three races reaching record numbers not seen since before COVID. With 250 runners from across the region and beyond made their way to Airlie Beach to take part in the Whitsunday Running Club’s annual trail event.
Runners were greeted with perfect cooler conditions on Sunday, 14 September, setting the stage for a day of outstanding performances, course records, and community spirit.
The festival raised $1,526.49 for the Queensland State Emergency Service (SES), whose volunteers were once again on course to ensure runner safety. Their annual commitment makes the event possible.
WTF 58K Accom Whitsunday Ultra A record number of entrants took on the festival’s longest challenge.
Male; 1st Bertrand Abela — 5:30:27; 2nd Paul MacKenzie — 5:48:54; 3rd Luke Smyth — 5:49:16
Female; 1st Ruth Eagles — 6:11:35; 2nd Francesca Bellicini — 6:58:28; 3rd Eliza Brewer — 7:29:58
WTF 28K Anaconda Whitsunday Trail One hundred runners tackled the point-to-point race from Brandy Creek Road.
Male; 1st Jeff Rubach — 2:23:09; 2nd Dustin Phillips — 2:34:07; 3rd Inaki Egibar — 2:37:53
Female; 1st Demi Caldwell — 2:27:19 (New Course Record, breaking her 2023 time of 2:35:56); 2nd Liv Compton — 2:47:10; 3rd Kelly Chappell — 3:06:10
WTF 11K Honeyeater Shokz Challenge With more than sixty entrants, both men’s and women’s course records were broken.
Male; 1st Brendan Maltby — 54:53 (New Course Record, bettering his 2024 record of 55:11); 2nd Ethan Kwa — 56:46; 3rd Andrew Banks — 1:01:03
Female; 1st Aimee Sulzberger — 1:02:52 (New Course Record, breaking her 2023 record of 1:03:33); 2nd Ella Chappell — 1:13:05; 3rd Aline Stedman — 1:14:17
Bendigo Community Bank Kids Beach Bash Another sell-out, the Kids Beach Bash gave younger runners their moment in the spotlight.
Male; 1st Alex Wakerley — 5:36; 2nd Kayne Higgins — 5:43; 3rd Calvin Murphy — 5:51
Female; 1st Shaile Mewha — 5:00; 2nd Lilah Mewha — 6:15; 3rd Willow Kenny — 6:30
Mascot Race
The crowd-favourite Mascot Race saw its biggest field to date, featuring Bungaroo (Cannonvale State School), Cruiser (Cruise Whitsunday), Blazer (Queensland Fire Department), Paddy (SES), Turbine Tentacles (Whitsunday Regional Council), Piggy (Bendigo Community Bank), Hogster (Hog’s Breath Café) and Gavin the Frog (BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort). Gavin the Frog from BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort took home the win.
Race Director Andrea Farley said: “It was a fantastic day with some incredible personal bests, returning runners who have been part of the festival for more than five years, and the ongoing support of our volunteers and sponsors. This event simply wouldn’t be possible without the Whitsunday Running Club, Parkrun Airlie Beach, our community members, and the SES.”
The festival will return on Sunday, 13 September 2026, with ticket sales opening on 1 March 2026. Further details will be available at www.runwhitsundays.com.au.
No comment yet, add your voice below!