FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Marathon's Domestic and International Credentials Keep Growing
The 35th annual Gold Coast Airport Marathon is on track to host a record
number of runners this year, including a band of elite athletes with the
credentials to shatter race record times across the 6 - 7 July race
weekend.
The event was officially launched this morning at Skypoint atop the Q1
building in Surfers Paradise by the Minister for Tourism, Major Events,
Small Business and the Commonwealth Games, Jann Stuckey.
The Minister was joined by the Chair of the Gold Coast City Council
Economic Development and Tourism Committee, Councillor Jan Grew and Gold
Coast Airport Pty Ltd Managing Director Dennis Chant.
Olympian and Commonwealth Games marathoner Michael Shelley also took to the
stage to discuss his high-profile match up against fellow Olympian and
Commonwealth Games runner Craig Mottram in the Southern Cross University
10km Run (Saturday 6).
"Last year this event became the largest marathon in Australia with a
record of more than 28,200 participants," said Minister Stuckey.
"This year, numbers are tracking even higher than 2012, with unprecedented
participation increases across all events resulting in the event organisers
having to cap numbers to an increase of 15 per cent.
"In 2013, the Gold Coast will again welcome thousands of athletes from
around the world including Japan, Europe, Africa, America, Asia and New
Zealand.
"As we look toward the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, it is events
like the Gold Coast Airport Marathon that showcase to a global audience our
ability to host high calibre international sporting events."
The top five elite runners for the men's and women's 42.195km Gold Coast
Airport Marathon were also announced today.
Event Chairman Kerry Watson said the depth in this year's field could see
both men's and women's race records broken again.
"We'll be joined by world-class runners from Kenya, Ethiopia, Japan and
many other countries, as well as some of Australia's and New Zealand's
best," Mr Watson said.
"Japan is particularly well represented in the elite men's and women's
ranks and, of course, there will be a strong contingent of African runners
who never fail to produce something special," he said.
People from all over the world continue to embrace the world-class Gold
Coast event with entries across all events up almost 30 per cent on the
same time last year, with an important, proactive safety measure put in
place to limit entry to the 42.195km Marathon to an increase of 15 per cent
with 6,500 runners while up to 11,000 people will be able to run in the
21km Half Marathon to allow for a 10 per cent growth.
Mr Watson extended his thanks to the 1000-plus volunteer team who work on
the event as part of the Suncorp Bank Volunteer Program.
"It is an exciting time for events and sport in Queensland as we march on
to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, which the
countdown clock tells us is exactly 1755 days away.
"And events like the Gold Coast Airport Marathon show how incredibly
valuable and important to success our volunteers are," he said.
In another announcement today, champion ironwoman Courtney Hancock told the
gathering she's looking forward to running in her first half marathon on
Sunday 7 July.
"The furthest I've run in competition has been 12km in the Coolangatta
Gold, and that was broken into sections and on sand, so the half is
certainly going to be a new challenge," she said.
Earlier this year the Gold Coast Airport Marathon became the first
Australian marathon race to attain the prestigious international
designation - an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)
Road Race Bronze Label - putting it in esteemed company around the world.
The sport's world governing body, the IAAF, annually awards IAAF Road Race
Labels to only those marathons that meet criteria for excellence in the
delivery of the race.
The Gold Coast Airport Marathon is a major highlight on Queensland's event
calendar, attracting people from more than 30 countries and showcasing the
Gold Coast as a premier sporting event destination.
This year's race program will feature the full 42.195km Gold Coast Airport
Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, Southern Cross University 10km Run, Suncorp
Bank 5.7km Challenge and 4km and 2km Junior Dash races.
Runners and walkers also have the opportunity to dedicate their run and
raise funds for the official charity Cancer Council Queensland or for a
charity of their choice.
Entries for the 35th Gold Coast Airport Marathon are open.
For more information, or to enter, visit www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au.
Top 5 elite runners in the 2013 Gold Coast Airport Marathon
Men
Jairus Ondora Chanchima (Kenya) PB 2:07:44
Girmay Birhanu Gebru (Ethiopia) PB 2:08:11
Yuki Kawauchi (Japan) PB 2:08:37
Samson Kiprono (Kenya) PB 2:08:52
Robert Matu (Kenya) PB 2:10:04
Race Record 2:10:01
Women
Yukiko Akaba (Japan) PB 2:24:09
Eri Okubo (Japan) PB 2:26:08
Goitetom Haftu Tesema (Ethiopia) PB 2:26:22
Alice Chelang'at Ngerechi (Kenya) 2:26:36
Alevtina Ivanova (Russia) PB 2:26:38
Race Record 2:29:29
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