Barooga’s Brooke Williams claims silver at state championships

By Aydin Payne

Dec 23, 2021

Medal to show for it: Barooga’s Brooke Williams with her second-place medal.

Track athlete Brooke Williams returned home from the recent state titles with a silver medal around her neck.

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The Barooga-based mum ran a personal best time of 16.36 to finish second in the Victorian 5km Championships at Albert Park’s Lakeside Stadium earlier this month.

Remarkably, it was Williams’ first official competitive run in three years — following her diagnosis with cardiomyopathy.

There has been a lot of hours of pounding the pavement in preparation for a return to state-level action.

The 31-year-old said the podium finish at the championships meant all the hard work and preparation had been worth it

“It took a couple of days (to sink in). But I look back now and it’s just an awesome feeling,” Williams said.

“I was actually quite anxious before the race because it was the first time I was competing in three years, but once the gun went off and I started running it just felt normal to me.

“I had the best preparation of my life. To come second at the state championships makes all that hard work worth it.”

Williams had plenty of supporters with her trackside at Lakeside Stadium.

Her coach Steve Moneghetti travelled from Ballarat to cheer her on, along with her family and friends.

“It was great to have Steve and all my family there cheering me on,” Williams said.

“Steve has been unreal and I can’t thank him enough. And it was pretty cool to have my mum and dad there.

“Even just the support back in Barooga has been incredible. People have stopped me down the street and told me they watched the race and cheered me on, so it’s been special.”

Although Williams is fresh off a podium finish at state level, the training doesn’t stop.

Williams has her eyes on competing at the Zatopek:10 Australian 10,000m Championships on January 26.

The talented athlete will then turn her attention to the Australian Track and Field Championships at the end of March.

“I had a massive reality check the next day after my race when I had to get up and go for a run,” Williams said with a laugh.

“I have the national championships for the 10km event on January 26 and then the national 5km, which acts as qualifiers for the Commonwealth Games in March.

“The best runners in the country will be there and I’m just going to give it my best shot.”