Runners Michelle and Mark Robinson, Brendon Robards and Carolyn Schaeffer, from the “Runners Jam” club in Brisbane, were making a colourful statement at the Wondai Country Running Festival … did they know these are Wondai’s footy colours?
July 2, 2026
The weather was perfect at the weekend for Wondai’s annual running festival … not too hot, not too cold and just right for some very fast times!
Almost 600 runners registered to take part in the two-day Wondai Country Running Festival.
Events took place along the South Burnett Rail Trail as well as in the nearby forestry area.
The big weekend kicked off on Saturday morning with 190 entrants taking part in the weekly Wondai parkrun event.
A new event for 2026 was the CROW-FM 1km Time Trial, which proved very popular with competitors.
Runners began in groups of three; the staggered start meant the first runner back across the line was not necessarily the winner or the fastest over the 1km course.
Individual times were calculated as a percentage of the world record for the runner’s age and gender, before the winners were announced:
Male: 1st Jake Roberts 87.28; 2nd Lachlan Cameron 81.50; 3rd Alex Farmilo 81.39
The winner of Sunday’s Ken Mills Marathon, Tobias Chappill, from Helensvale, broke the event record by 13 seconds!
Other records were broken by Lachlan Cameron in the Bowy Active 5km run, and by Katy Booth in the Bendigo Bank Half Marathon (see results below).
Many runners come back every year to compete at Wondai.
Ultra-marathon runner John Pearson, who came third in the 10km event, was the winner of the inaugural Country Running Festival marathon in 2018.
[Photos: southburnett.com.au, Ros Heit and Stephen Mentiplay]
There was also an added benefit to the local community from the CROW-FM 1km Time Trial … the competitors’ entry fees were topped up by the Running Festival committee to make a $500 donation to the Ride 4 Relay Cancer Council Queensland fundraiser … Lacey Walker, from CROW-FM, with the Time trial winners, organising committee member Ros Heit and Jason Wyeth, from Ride 4 RelaySouth Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff with entrants from the All Abilities Race … at back, Michael Raphael, from Hivesville, who was first across the line, with Elaine Madill, from Wondai, at front, and Nicky Watkins, from Rockin’ Our Abilities at MurgonThe “Pink Ladies” came up from Brisbane for the festival … from left, Tracy Leiper, Bron Lyndon, Jen Turnbull and Christine Wilson …… and they dressed especially for the occasion!These two young girls from Brisbane were making sure the runners were greeted with loud cow bells as they crossed the finishing lineThe first three runners take off in the new event for 2026 … the CROW-FM 1km Time TrialThe winners of the time trial were decided by a complicated formula that compared the runners’ individual times as a percentage of the world record for their age and gender … which required some careful calculations in the official tentThe kids are always away first at the start of the Hansen Kitchens Family Fun RunNatalie Martin-Booker, from Moffat Beach, and Kerinda Camilleri, from the Sunshine Coast were getting ready for the 21.1km Forest Trail RunVolunteers Annette Kruger and Claire and Craig KapernickVolunteers Winston Burrows, Ros Heit and Tam MullerVolunteers Matt McCauley, Mick Freeman and Deon McLean did a lot of the hard work out on the Forest TrailsVolunteer Liz Nicholson loves clowning around at the annual running festival but also has an important on-course role, showing where the runners in the shorter events should turn around!
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Wondai Country Markets
The Wondai Country Markets in Coronation Park are always run in conjunction with the annual Country Running Festival.
Visitors check out the market stalls and free entertainment during the breaks in the running program.
South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff officially opened the Wondai Country Running Festival in Coronation ParkThe Wondai CWA and Community choir sang songs from the Wondai Art Gallery extensionViv White, from Viv’s Farm Animals, with 12-day-old Mickey, a Dorper xThe Wondai Town & District Band also played favourites from the Art Gallery verandah
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Saturday Night Dinner
The Saturday night dinner at Wondai Memorial Hall is always popular with race volunteers and the competitors who are staying overnight for the big races on Sunday.
Also very popular are two now-traditional favourites on the night … mulled wine and boiled peanuts!
Sharon Aldridge, Christine Wilson and Tracy Leiper … all from BrisbaneBron Lyndon, Jen Turnbull and Amanda Nix, also from BrisbaneNathaniel Crocker, from Gympie; Ben Smith, from Vancouver, and, at back, Savanna Crocker, from AdelaideNatalie Martin-Booker, from Moffat Beach, and Kerinda Camilleri, from the Sunshine CoastJulie Cox and Rob Booker, from the Sunshine CoastVolunteer Wendy Turner, from Wooroolin, was kept busy serving up the mulled wineJudy Crawford’s crew from JC Catering were making sure everyone was well fedVolunteers Matt McCauley and Claire Kapernick with some of the drink memorabilia available on the nightSteve Peterson was keeping the music flowing with harmonica and guitarThe 2026 Wondai Country Running Festival dinner was quickly booked out
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Running Festival Official Results
SATURDAY
CROW-FM 1km Wondai Time Trial
Male
Female
1. Jake Roberts 00:02:53
1. Madeline Taft 00:03:29
2. Lachlan Cameron 00:02:53
2. Clare Mitchell 00:04:04
3. Alex Farmilo 00:02:57
3. Carolyn Schaeffer 00:04:07
[NB. These are the first-past-the-post gender results, not age-weighted]
1km Time Trial men’s podium … Lachlan Cameron, 2nd; Jake Roberts, 1st; and Alex Farmilo, 3rd; with Lacey Walker from sponsors CROW-FM1km Time Trial women’s podium … Madeline Taft, 2nd; Clare Mitchell, 1st; and Ella Burgess, 3rd
Yesbergs Earthmoving 21.1km Forest Trail Run
Male
Female
1. Oskar Booth 01:29:36
1. Jane Lucas 01:51:13
2. Bill Hennessy 01:31:53
2. Rebecca Rickards 01:52:16
3. Matt Hampton 01:32:51
3. Abby Dunlop 01:57:00
21.1km Forest Trail Run men’s podium … Bill Hennessy, 2nd; Oskar Booth, 1st; and Matt Hampton, 3rd, with a representative from sponsor Yesbergs Earthmoving21.1km Forest Trail Run women’s podium … Rebecca Rickards, 2nd; Jane Lucas, 1st; and Abby Dunlop, 3rd
Go Getta Girls 11.1km Forest Trail Run
Male
Female
1. Matthew McNamara 00:45:59
1. Kealey Harland 00:56:32
2. Lachlan Cameron 00:46:08
2. Charlie Andersen 00:56:41
3. Jay Warry 00:50:39
3. Emily Gulland 01:02:04
11.1km Forest Trail Run men’s podium … Lachlan Cameron, 2nd; Matthew McNamara, 1st; and Jay Warry, 3rd, with Julie Stenning, from sponsors Go Getta Girls11.1km Forest Trail Run women’s podium … Charlie Andersen, 2nd; and Kealey Harland, 1st
SUNDAY
Ken Mills Auto & Machinery Marathon
Male
Female
1. Tobias Chappill 02:46:36
1. Emma Lennon 03:49:38
2. Jordan Peach 03:00:29
2. Sam Barnard 04:14:07
3. Dennis Rochford 03:20:18
3. Rachael Kapernick 04:16:58
Marathon men’s podium … Jordan Peach, 2nd; Tobias Chappill, 1st; and Dennis Rochford, 3rd; with Thomas Carroll, from sponsors Ken Mills Auto & MachineryMarathon women’s podium … Sam Barnard, 2nd; Emma Lennon, 1st; and Rachael Kapernick, 3rd
Bendigo Bank Half Marathon
Male
Female
1. Jeremiah Hlanga 01:23:17
1. Katy Booth 01:23:40
2. Jim Gold 01:32:15
2. Anna Renwick 01:33:42
3. Josche Stewart 01:37:51
3. Emily Myers 01:37:39
21.1km Half Marathon men’s podium … Jim Gold, 2nd; Jeremiah Hlanga, 1st; and Josche Stewart, 3rd; with representatives from sponsors Bendigo Bank21.1km Half Marathon women’s podium … Anna Renwick, 2nd; Katy Booth, 1st; and Emily Myers, 3rd
Parkside 10km Rail Trail Run
Male
Female
1. Matthew McNamara 00:37:25
1. Sarah Boxall 00:47:48
2. Ben Smith 00:38:03
2. Amy Sempf 00:47:58
3. John Pearson 00:39:20
3. Kerry Garner 00:48:53
LEFT: 10km Rail Trail run men’s podium … Ben Smith, 2nd; Matthew McNamara, 1st; and John Pearson, 3rd; with Robert Kuhrt from sponsors Parkside RIGHT: 10km Rail Trail run women’s podium … Amy Sempf, 2nd; and Sarah Boxall, 1st
Bowy Active 5km Rail Trail Run
Male
Female
1. Lachlan Cameron 00:16:55
1. Carla Whitehead 00:24:00
2. Jake Roberts 00:16:57
2. Shannon Burgess 00:26:48
3. Zac Farmilo 00:18:19
3. Ella Burgess 00:26:51
5km Rail Trail Run men’s podium … Jake Roberts, 2nd; and Lachlan Cameron, 1st; with a representative from sponsors Bowy Active5km Rail Trail Run women’s podium … Carla Whitehead, 1st; and Ella Burgess, 3rdThe Perpetual Trophy for the marathon salutes the history of the South Burnett Rail Trail
