Sport
6 January, 2026
Maryborough’s Glenn McMillan wins third Highland Gathering 1600 m open final
Glenn McMillan’s love affair with the Highland Gathering continues to blossom, with the Maryborough-born athlete winning his third 1600 m open final.
With back-to-back triumphs in 2018 and 2019, McMillan was among the favourites in the 14 athlete field to make it a triple treat of titles on New Year’s Day.
In a potentially fortunate coincidence, McMillan started at 120 m, the same mark he had when he won the same race back in 2019.
As soon as the starting gun fired, McMillan strided effortlessly as he quickly set the pace for the backmarkers to chase down the frontrunners.
Starting the final lap leading a surging pack alongside Tez Kavanagh-Dando and Andrew Sait, McMillan put the hammer down, passing the last three front markers with a blistering final lap to win the race.
“It means everything really, being a Maryborough boy, lived here for the first 25 years of my life, I’ve won three grand finals on this oval playing for Carisbrook, played 50 odd games for Maryborough, I still run down the main street and you see the old man’s business, it’s just fantastic,” McMillan said.
“It’s always one gift that I’m aiming to win, no matter what.
“I remember coming down here as a seven or eight-year-old in 1999, the day after the Maryborough Gift, running the sprint track and running around the outside.
“I just loved it then, it’s actually a childhood dream to win here, so to do it three times is amazing.”
For McMillan, Princes Park has been the nucleus for a personal health journey over the past decade.
“When I was 100 kg back in 2015 and my dad had a few health problems, this was the event that I wanted to win and get into running for,” he said.
“I wasn’t happy with how my body composition was and I wanted to get a little bit fitter, so I thought running was a nice way of doing that.
“I did a little bit with the Maryborough Triathlon Club. I won the 2015/16 season’s championship and I found running to be amazing.
“It was just always a goal to run here and I remember in 2016 doing it for the first time and it was such an emotional moment just being out there on the field with the old man watching.”
After passing Kyle Hilson and Rob Irwin earlier in the final lap, McMillan still had Phil Noden to beat, who had a sizeable lead on McMillan with 200 m to go.
As both athletes rounded the final bend, McMillan zoomed past Noden, creating an over three-second gap in the last 100 m to finish the race in 4:12.498.
“Earlier this season, Robbie Petrie has been running brilliantly and has come past me early in races,” McMillan said.
“I really wanted to make sure that he was chasing me for a long time, so I went out pretty hard.
“I made sure to rest that second and third lap and then that last lap just to kick past Phil Noden. I know he’s maybe a couple of years older than me, but he’s got a lot of speed in his legs.
“I was worried from the 200 m to 100 m to go, so I really put everything in there to try and keep the form all of the way through the line.
“I think with about 100 m to go I had a cheeky little look over the shoulder and thought yeah I’m home.”
