Editor’s note: I first learned about this meet from Brian Lenton, in his stories on Rob De Castella. Rob had won the race in 1979. I did not know that it dated back to Ron Clarke’s win in 1961!
The Zatopek: 10 has been held since 1961, and was originally founded by the Victorian Marathon club, held in honor each year of the 1948 Olympic gold medalist at the 10,000m and 1952 Olympic gold medalist at the 10,000 meters, 5,000 meters and marathon, the one, the only, Emil Zatopek!
The Zatopek: 10 has been held for 65 years. Ron Clarke was the first winner (women’s 10,000m was added in 1976). On December 13, 2025, the tradition continued, as Seth O’Donnell and Lauren Ryan took the Zatopek : 10 titles!
Without a doubt, it this ia the premier 10,000 meters in Australia!
This writer met the late, great Emil Zatopek in 1991, when he was made assistant coach at Foothill community college in Los Altos, CA by Head coach Joe Mangana nd Assistant coach, Larry Eder. That day, Emil coached and inspired our five steeplechasers, who all ran their PBs in honor of the great man.
I spoke with NZ runner Tony Gaulter about running his PB of 28:54 there last weekend! Watch for that interview on #SocialingtheDistance!
| Year | Men’s Winner | ||
| 2025 | Seth O’Donnell | Lauren Ryan | |
| 2024 | Jack Rayner | Rose Davies | |
| 2023 | Jack Rayner | Lauren Ryan | |
| 2022 | Jack Rayner | ||
| 2021 | Jack Rayner | Rose Davies | |
| 2020 | Stewart McSweyn | Rose Davies | |
| 2019 | Stewart McSweyn | ||
| 2018 | Stewart McSweyn | Hitomi Niiya | |
| 2017 | Patrick Tiernan | Celia Sullohern | |
| 2016 | Patrick Tiernan | ||
| 2015 | Brett Robinson | Eloise Wellings | |
| 2014 | Brett Robinson | ||
| 2013 | Sam Chelange | Nikki Chapple | |
| 2012 | Emmanuel Bett | Neely Spence | |
| 2011 | Emmanuel Bett | Joyce Chepkirui | |
| 2010 | Josphat Menjo | Eloise Wellings | |
| 2009 | Collis Birmingham | Eloise Wellings | |
| 2008 | David McNeill | Lara Tamsett | |
| 2007 | Collis Birmingham | Melinda Vernon | |
| 2006 | Galen Rupp | Jessica Ruthe | |
| 2005 | Brett Cartwright | Kate McIlroy | |
| 2004 | David Ruschena | Haley McGregor | |
| 2003 | Craig Mottram | Haley McGregor | |
| 2002 | Lee Troop | Susie Power | |
| 2001 | Craig Mottram | Susie Power | |
| 2000 | Luke Kipkosgei | Sonia O’Sullivan | |
| 1999 | Abraham Chebii | Kerryn McCann | |
| 1998 | Luke Kipkosgei | Natalie Harvey | |
| 1997 | Luke Kipkosgei | Natalie Harvey | |
| 1996 | Luke Kipkosgei | Natalie Harvey | |
| 1995 | Joseph Kimani | Nyla Carroll | |
| 1994 | Josephat Machuka | ||
| 1993 | Stephen Mayaka | ||
| 1992 | Paul Patrick | ||
| 1991 | Andrew Lloyd | ||
| 1990 | Andrew Lloyd | Jenny Lund | |
| 1989 | Malcolm Norwood | Susan Hobson | |
| 1988 | Andrew Lloyd | Coral Farr | |
| 1987 | Steve Moneghetti | Lisa Martin | |
| 1986 | Steve Moneghetti | Tania Turney | |
| 1985 | Steve Moneghetti | Gaylene Clews | |
| 1984 | Martin Stock | Sally Pierson | |
| 1983 | Robert de Castella | Sally Pierson | |
| 1982 | John Andrew | ||
| 1981 | Andrew Lloyd | Megan Sloane | |
| 1980 | Steve Austin | Megan Sloane | |
| 1979 | Robert de Castella | Joan Cameron | |
| 1978 | Gerard Barrett | Joan Cameron | |
| 1977 | David Chettle | Joan Cameron | |
| 1976 | Gerard Barrett | Anne Callaghan | |
| 1975 | John Bermingham |
(Women’s race began in 1976) |
|
| 1974 | John Axesentieff | ||
| 1973 | A. Sansonetti | ||
| 1972 | Bruce Jones | ||
| 1971 | Tony Williams | ||
| 1970 | John Coyle | ||
| 1969 | Ron Clarke | ||
| 1968 | Ron Clarke | ||
| 1967 | G. Claxton | ||
| 1966 | I. Blackwood | ||
| 1965 | I. Blackwood | ||
| 1964 | A. Cook | ||
| 1963 | Ron Clarke | ||
| 1962 | Ron Clarke | ||
| 1961 | Ron Clarke | ||
1. list of winners was developed using GEMINI on Google. RunBlogRun will always note when using artificial intelligence.
2. List of Zatopek winning times, 1961-2025 is from TrackAthlete.ie, an Australian site: