Commonwealth Games steeplechase runner Brielle Erbacher is set to defend her mile title at Toowoomba’s running festival after setting a race record last year.

Known for her steeplechase running, this year Brielle Erbacher is returning to Toowoomba to compete in the mile event.

She won the same event last year with a time of five minutes and eight seconds, a race record, and also holds the record for the women’s 5km run in 2024, with a time of 17 minutes and forty-four seconds.

The elite runner, who raced in the Commonwealth Games in 2022, runs all over Australia in preparation for her steeplechase events, having most recently won the The Sunday Mail Bridge to Brisbane Fun Run 5km event in 2025.

Brielle is currently preparing for the 2026 Australian Athletics Championships in Sydney this weekend, competing in the 3000m Steeplechase.

“Sometimes you don’t make it over them (the barriers) and you get a little bit owie, but most of the time you just have to forget about it and trust that you will make it over,” she said.

The events she runs throughout the year all revolve around the steeple.

“My whole year is always based around my steeple so it’s always my main focus, and then training in base season, you lean back to your 5km and 10km,” she said.

“You’re running a long run every week, which is a half marathon, but they all benefit each other, then you drop down to a mile and then that helps with your speed.”

For anyone looking to compete in the mile event at the Toowoomba running festival this year, Ms Erbacher said to just have run.

“Don’t think that it’s too far that you need to pace yourself but at the same time don’t go all out because it will bite you on the other end,” she said.

There is still time to enter this year’s running festival and you can find out more information by heading to https://toowoombarunningfestival.com.au