EMPIRE STATE OF MIND | JESSICA STENSON ARRIVES FOR NEW YORK CITY MARATHON

Family time, defining climbs and finish lines – SA's Jessica Stenson’s 2022 is already a year for the ages.

The Commonwealth champion has wasted no time in trading gold for goals, touching down for Sunday’s New York City Marathon where she has high hopes in a field comprised of the world’s premier women.

Citing sore quadriceps and tender toenails as a small price to pay for her Birmingham success when roaring to victory in 2:27:31 in front of her husband Dylan and son Billy, Stenson returns to the gruelling 42.2km journey for the 15^th time of her career with the flame burning stronger than ever.

“I feel really motivated. It could have gone the other way where I felt exhausted and like I needed a break, but we had so much fun over there and it was a really nice couple of weeks with my teammates and our families,” Stenson said.

“Everyone says that the atmosphere in New York is electric and I think that will work in my favour, I really like to draw energy from the crowd. Central Park will be beautiful and I am excited to just experience the city of New York, there are so many strong women in the field which is really exciting.”

Stenson will meet reigning world champion Gotytom Gebreslase (Ethiopia, 2:18:11) and defending New York champion Pares Jepchirchir (Kenya, 2:17:46) among a host of hopefuls which includes two-time world champion Hellen Obiri (Kenya, Debut) – but Sunday will not be about the clock with the course record standing at 2:22:31.

“I have seen everything as a bonus this preparation, in a sense there hasn’t been a lot of pressure because I felt like I ticked off such a big goal in Birmingham,” Stenson said.

“I just want to get out there and compete. I try to avoid creating expectations around how I will feel in a race and just accept that there will be some good and some challenging patches, but it is going to be exciting to see my sporting and marathon idols in the pack around me.”

With the New York course entailing similar challenges to that of Birmingham in the form of rolling hills, the 35-year-old is confident that her skillset is compatible with the task ahead – eager to lay down another performance in the upper echelon of the Australian women’s marathon scene.

“I love running and one of my goals is to encourage more people to enjoy the benefits because it has so much to offer both physically and mentally. Seeing more and more women starting a family with the idea that they are going to get stronger and faster in their running career has been really special to see,” Stenson said.

Coached by Adam Didyk since 2008, Stenson allowed herself 10 days of cross training after Birmingham before returning to running, proceeding to win the Australian Road Running Championships, Melbourne Half Marathon and South Australian 5km title in the midst of her heavy training.

“I had a smooth transition back into sessions with the South Australian 5km Championships and the the City to Bay 12km, and then the Melbourne Half Marathon. It has been nice to slot a few races in and keep the marathon block interesting, I have really capitalised on the training from my last block and just topped up a bit,” Stenson.

The form reads strong for Stenson who in the words of Didyk is “handling the marathon specific workouts better than before”, with the team optimistic that the Australian can feature prominently in the esteemed World Marathon Major.  

Stenson’s maiden name Trengove is set to return to the results sheet with her brother and former Melbourne Football Club captain, Jack, set makes his debut under the expert tutelage of Stenson.

“My brother Jack is running his first marathon in New York, so I have been coaching him towards this one. I am confident in his ability to have a good run, he is naturally bit of an aerobic beast and I think he will pace himself well,” Stenson said.

The dual Olympian has also found an unlikely training partner outside of her Team Tempo teammates in Port Adelaide premiership player and media personality Kane Cornes, who is also headed to New York after recently completing a charity run from Adelaide to Melbourne in 12 days.

Fellow Australians Eloise Wellings, Madison de Rozario and Christie Dawes are set to contest the New York City Marathon on November 6.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 3/11/2022