Stephanie Torley first woman home in record Mount Panorama Punish lap

CAN'T BE CAUGHT: Stephanie Torley comes to a stop in Sunday's Mount Panorama Punish after being the first woman home. Photo: ALEXANDER GRANT

CAN’T BE CAUGHT: Stephanie Torley comes to a stop in Sunday’s Mount Panorama Punish after being the first woman home. Photo: ALEXANDER GRANT

The junior star from Dalton was in a league of her own in the battle for first woman home, storming to that title in Sunday’s race with a time of 24 minutes and 38 seconds.

The time was a new women’s record, shattering Amy Lam’s winning 26:19 mark from last year.

Bathurst duo Renelle Donges (28:03) and Kellie Gibson (28:15) filled out the women’s podium.

When racing out on your own it can be difficult sometimes to that extra bit of motivation to help you reach the next level.

However, Torley had the perfection motivator in the form of her brother Dominic.

The pair never let each other out of their sights, finishing just four seconds apart.

“I saw my little brother overtake me and I thought ‘I’ve got to catch him’ but I just didn’t get him in the end,” Torley laughed.

“That was my first time running around Mount Panorama. That was very difficult. Those hills were pretty damn hard.

“At the end all I was thinking was ‘Thank God that’s over’.”

Torley didn’t carry massive expectations into the race given her disrupted lead up.

“I’ve been sick so I just wanted to go out there to go as good as I could and hopefully get the win,” she said.

“There was a cold that went through the whole family and I got it last, which wasn’t the greatest, but I just started to get over it at the right time.”

Torley finished the race in ninth overall.

The Torley family had another great day at Bathurst as Sam (12-18 boys), Dominic (0-11 boys) and Stephanie (12-18 girls) finished fourth, eighth and ninth overall respectively and all won their age divisions.

Gibson was first home in the 19-39 years division and another home runner, Kristy Powyer (28:42), was the winner of the 40-49 years contest.

Leave a Reply