Chris Oldfield, Naracoorte Community News
One of Naracoorte’s greatest sporting champions Jessica Stenson, nee Trengrove, has helped inspire mothers around the world by winning gold in the women’s marathon at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
The triple medallist won bronze in Glasgow, 2014 Commonwealth Games, and bronze at the Gold Coast 2018 games.
Removing her sunglasses during the last kilometre of a gruelling 42km marathon, her familiar smile beamed as Jessica mouthed the words “thank you, thank you” to roaring crowds and flashing cameras.
Pounding her way to the finish line, Jessica quickly found her family among the crowd.
It was an emotional hug with her husband Dylan and their 2.5-year -old son Billy as well as her support group.
Another special hug went to her teammates – who are also young mothers – and she praised them for helping her win gold – Eloise Wellings (fourth place) and Sinead Diver (fifth).
“At 20km I had a really important water bottle with a caffeinated gel on it,” Jessica told News.com.au
“It wasn’t there. Elsie gave me her caffeinated gel.
“I wouldn’t have got that result without that.
“I want those girls to wear the medal too, because it was a real team effort today.”
Jessica also told reporters at the Games that catching Covid a month before the race might have been a blessing as it gave her “a bit of extra rest”.
“I had two complete days off and then just jogged for the rest of the week,” she told reporters.
“My coach and the Athletics Australia medical staff were really calm and said: ‘Look people have had it before and got through it. You will be fine’.
“It was good having that composure around me and my husband too, who said it was the best thing for me – extra rest.”
While at the finish line, Jessica told Channel 7: “I think being a mum makes you stronger, physically and emotionally. So, go mums.”
Moving to Adelaide in 2012, the daughter of proud parents Colin and Deb Trengove returned to Naracoorte Primary School four years ago.
She told students and staff how much the messages and letters of support meant to her and helped during events – she thought about them while she was running.
The primary school was where her long-distance running career started – in the annual inter-school South East cross country, that weaves through the Naracoorte Nature Park in the North Parklands.
This article appeared in Naracoorte Community News.
