Written by Brandon Calder for Runner’s Tribe
A HUGE day for Australian distance running.
History was made overnight in Oordegem, Belgium, as Ed Trippas stormed to a stunning 8:13.15 in the 3000m steeplechase — rewriting the Australian record books and breaking a mark that had stood for 32 years, 1 month, and 7 days.
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The previous record belonged to Shaun Creighton, one of Australia’s great distance runners, who set the benchmark back in 1992. Creighton, displaying trademark sportsmanship, was quick to pay tribute to the new record-holder via a Facebook post:
“It was an incredible honour to hold the Australian 3000m Steeplechase Record for 32 years. Massive congratulations to Ed Trippas for his exceptional 8.13 overnight to break that record. Congrats also to Ben Buckingham and Matthew Clarke for great runs. Ed, Ben and Matt, I’m very pleased for you all. You have all been working hard for many years, and deserve your success. I’d love to arrange for the 3 of us & a few other old steeplechasers to get together to knock off the rest of the Steeplechase Shiraz I have in my cellar (and to give you each personally a bottle as part of handing over the baton). Congrats again to you all, especially to Ed & Coach Mottram.”
Trippas’ run was extraordinary by every measure. As highlighted by Australian athletics aficionado David Tarbotton, the performance:
* Smashed the national record by 3.07 seconds
* Broke the 4th oldest Australian men’s Olympic-event record
* Slashed 6.45 seconds off his personal best
* Secured qualification for the 2025 World Championships
* Set a new New South Wales record
The race also delivered a golden night for Australian steeplechasing as a whole. Ben Buckingham clocked 8:15.14, a 4.64-second personal best, dipping under Creighton’s old record and becoming the #2 Australian all-time, as well as setting a Victorian record — missing the World Championships qualifier by just 0.14 seconds.
Meanwhile, Matthew Clarke crossed in 8:16.57, cutting 3.49 seconds from his PB to become the #4 Australian all-time and claiming the South Australian record.
The Making of a Record-Breaker
For Trippas, this record was years in the making. A product of Sydney’s athletics scene, he first burst onto the national radar as a junior with a mix of endurance, hurdling technique, and fearless front-running. His talent took him to the NCAA system in the United States, where he competed for Princeton University, balancing a demanding Ivy League academic schedule with elite-level athletics.
In recent years, Trippas has thrived under the guidance of Craig Mottram, one of Australia’s most decorated middle-distance runners. Mottram’s influence has been key — instilling race-day composure, refining his barrier clearance efficiency, and ensuring his training consistently targeted world-class benchmarks.
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Trippas’ path hasn’t been without setbacks, including injuries and pandemic disruptions, but his persistence and self-belief have been unwavering. This Oordegem run was not only a record-breaker but also validation of years of disciplined preparation.
The depth on display in Oordegem shows Australian steeplechasing is entering a new era. The baton — and perhaps a bottle of Creighton’s famed Steeplechase Shiraz — has been passed to a new generation.
Special thanks to David Tarbotton for his meticulous statistics and insights.
