Participant and support crew numbers grew while the times were slashed in the girls only muti-sport event on Australia Day morning.

Those preferring an active start to their public holiday took part in the 400 metre run and four kilometre swim event at the Mildura Marina yesterday, with Mildura’s Madeline Smith taking the overall win from inaugural winner Ellie Fraser.

After it’s inception last year, event organiser Mark Wilgar said with the number of people there and the perfect conditions, he could not have asked for more.

“We have had a fantastic response this year, not just in the competition but with the amount of spectators that have come along,” he said.

“The quality of the field is sky high as well, we have some fantastic athletes.

“By the close we had 70 entries, plus some that came from left field today, certainly up a bit on last year.

“We are hoping it will grow into something huge.”

The event has become the non-official sister race to the always popular Mallee 12 during the year.

Wilgar paid tribute to the efforts of Smith and Fraser.

“We have lots of talented runners, but in the swim Maddie would have to be the standout and if she can open up a good lead she is good enough runner to hold onto it, which is what she showed us today,” he said.

“Ellie came into the race in great form, and you can take nothing away from her effort.”

Smith finished with a time of 25 minutes 43 seconds from Fraser, who won the under 18s age group, with 26:19.

In only her first Aquathon, Smith said she was happy with her preparation leading into the event.

“I was a bit nervous I’ve never done an Aquathon before, it was my first year, but it was good fun,” Smith said.

Smith opened up a substantial lead after the swim over last year’s winner Fraser.

“The swim went well so I was happy with that, I’ve always been a better swimmer than I am a runner,” she said.

“I’ve been trying to do a bit more running lately.”

The 26-year-old was then able to hang on during the run, edging out her 16-year-old competitor.

“It was a good feeling, it was good to finish.”

Overall third place was Kellie Osbourne with 26:47, while the over 40 group winner was Sandi James in 30:21.

The winners in teams event, where one participant would swim and the other run, was the ‘Pumped Up Chics’ of Chloe O’Brien (swim) and Rebecca McConnell who finished with a combined time of 27:20, with the ‘Mango Smoothies’ of Karen Wilgar (swim) and Rebecca Burton just seven seconds behind.

This article appeared in Friday's Sunraysia Daily 27/1/2012.