FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Records fall as the 2024 Gold Coast Marathon presented by ASICS stands tall
ASICS Gold Coast Marathon
A diminutive 23-year-old Japanese surprise packet today smashed the ASICS
Gold Coast Marathon women's race record, stunningly in just her second
marathon.
Yuki Nakamura came into Sunday's race at the lower end of the top 10 but
turned the form guide upside down with a 2:24:22 run that eclipsed American
Lindsay Flanagan's race record of 2:24:43 set in 2022 by 21 seconds.
It was the third fastest women's marathon time on Australian soil, the
other two fastest achieved by the gold and silver medalists at the Sydney
2000 Olympic Games.
Ethiopia's Kumeshi Sichala (2:25:25) and pre-race favourite Kenyan Visiline
Jepkesho (2:26:17) took the minor placings.
Nakamura's out-of-a-hat record was achieved on a perfect-for-running Gold
Coast morning alongside a record 10,000-plus fellow marathoners who
competed on the day.
The men's event was taken by Kenya's Timothy Kattam in 2:08:52, six seconds
ahead of Ethiopian Belay Tilahun (2:08:58) and Japan's Kiyoshi Koga
(2:09:22).
Nakamura said she had a slightly more conservative target time on the start
line.
"I was aiming for a 2:26 result, that was my objective, however, to come
here and win the race, I am so happy with the result," she said.
Nakamura said she went with the early pace.
"In the beginning, it was faster than I anticipated but I was feeling great
and enjoying the ambiance of the Gold Coast, so I just went for it and then
I realised there was nobody else around and I was winning.
"At the 30km mark I wanted to drop off the group, but then it was downhill,
so I tried to hang in there and catch up on the speed and when I got to the
35/36km mark it was good and I made my move.
"I have no idea how this feeling is, however later on I will feel the power
of standing on the top step of the podium," she said.
Second place Sichala said she was happy to achieve a personal best at her
first ASICS Gold Coast Marathon.
"My race went to plan, it was good, and I am very happy," she said
"I loved the people cheering along the course and I will come back to the
Gold Coast again," she said.
Jepkesho was happy enough with her debut appearance on the Gold Coast
"It wasn't my personal best, but I felt good," she said.
Men's champion Kattam said he surprised himself with his first run in
Australia.
"This is my first time coming to Australia, I am so grateful for today's
race, it was fantastic; I like the course, everything was well, I am very
happy for the day.
"It was about the win, [and] we were very tight over the ASICS athletes, it
was a very tough race.
"[Our team tactics] come out during training and that is what motivates
us," he said.
"The pace was 3:01, 3:02, but then it went to 3:07 and that is when I
decided to make a move, to control the speed,
"This is a very good season for me; today I wanted to try for a podium, but
I didn't expect to win today's race and I am very happy, and I am looking
to be back in Australia next year," he said.
Tilahun was happy with his run.
"It was a personal best for me, so how can you not be happy with that?"
Third place Koga wanted to do it his way.
"The last few races I haven't done well in the marathon, so I just wanted
to run the way it should be and stay steady and this was the result," he
said.
"The winner last year was Japanese, so I was aiming for first place but at
least I am on the podium and for that I am grateful.
"Many people were cheering, and it was a really fun and enjoyable run," he
said.
The best Australian in the men's race was Liam Boudin (2:13:56) who was
eighth overall in his debut marathon while Victorian Sarah Klein (2:31:58)
was the first Australian woman across the line and fifth overall in the
women's race.
Gold Coast Half Marathon
Bendigo's Andy Buchanan (1:02:25) and Canberra's Leanne Pompeani (1:09:20)
took the spoils in Saturday's Gold Coast Half Marathon after both races
were decided by breakaways over the final kilometre.
Thirty-three-year-old Buchanan held off a determined South Australian Isaac
Heyne and Japan's Shunsuke Shikama while Pompeani gave Paris-bound
marathoner Jess Stenson something to chase in her final preparation before
the 2024 Olympic Games.
Two-time winner American Sara Hall came third in her fourth appearance on
the Gold Coast.
In taking victory, Buchanan and Pompeani were also crowned Oceania
Champions.
Buchanan said it was a tough day at the office with some rain at the start
and finish, some steady wind, and the fear of the unknown.
"It was really nice on the way out with a big tail wind, but we had a hard
head wind the whole way back," he said.
"I felt a bit average at 18km, so I hung back, but when I reached the front
I just ran scared; that's how you run when you're out in front.
"I went through some bad patches but just stuck with it because I know they
don't last forever," he said.
Adelaide's Heyne said he ran with an agile race plan.
"My idea was to just sit and not expend too much energy in the first half,"
he said.
"When we turned around and came into the wind everyone slowed down, so I ad
libbed it a bit.
"I've won the 10km here before (in 2022), but this is my first half, so I'm
pretty stoked with how it went," he said.
Shikama said he enjoyed his first overseas assignment.
"It was wonderful to be here with all the atmosphere and cheering, it was
fun and enjoyable, and it really pushed me along," he said.
"This is my very first overseas race, and I'm happy that it was at the Gold
Coast Half Marathon," he said.
Shikama was one who appreciated the cooler conditions.
"Compared to Japan there was less humidity and [it was] a bit cooler, so
they were great running conditions.
"My run was about two minutes off my personal best and those two Aussies
were really crazy eager," he laughed.
Women's champion Pompeani added her first Gold Coast Half Marathon to her
famous Southern Cross University 10km wins in 2016, 2019 and 2022.
She said it was a last gasp breakaway that put distance between herself and
Stenson on the blue carpet.
"I'm extremely happy, I knew what I was going for," she said.
"I saw the field and I knew we were all sitting in the 69 min zone, so we
were going to have a pack," she said. "And then we got the feel of what we
were doing."
"After Sara dropped off, Jess and I realised that it's much easier to take
the tail wind, so we worked together and shared the pace.
"I haven't had a win in a half marathon here, so I'm very happy with that,"
she said.
The 27-year-old Pompeani said there was lift from the crowd.
"The atmosphere is the great thing about this race, because the course is
lined with houses and people just come out on their balconies and give you
a cheer, and this sets me up for the road racing season ahead."
Stenson said she'll take plenty from the race as she prepares to head to
Paris via Switzerland for final training.
"I felt good in the first two thirds but the last third was tough," she
said.
"I am in heavy marathon training now, so I think that was a really positive
job.
"Leanne and I worked together, taking turns out the front and it really
helped having someone out there.
"My race plan was to be brave and be competitive against the other girls; I
decided not to look at my splits the entire race,
"The next big thing coming up is getting to Europe with two young children
[aged 10 months and four] before the Paris Olympic Games," she said.
The 2017 and 2018 winner of this race and one-time American half marathon
record holder Hall said she was happy with her podium finish.
"The conditions were tough, but we had a really great group to work
alongside," she said.
"They [Pompeani and Stenson] pulled away in the second half so it was tough
to stay positive and keep fighting, but I really love this race; it's my
fourth time here.
"I didn't have much of a plan, but to put myself in a position where I had
to hurt and dig deep and I think I did that out there,
"I wasn't as fast as I wanted to be, but I am happy; I do love the rhythm
of this course," she said.
Champion Canadian duo Natasha Wodak and Andrea Seccafien took fourth and
fifth respectively.
A record 10,657 runners faced the starter for the first of the nine events
of the 44th Gold Coast Marathon presented by ASICS weekend.
CPL Wheelchair Marathon
The men's CPL Wheelchair Marathon was taken out for the second time by 2022
winner, Jake Lappin (1:42:14) after a cracking sprint to the finish against
last year's champion, Japan's Kota Hokinoue (1:42:26).
With plenty of wind out on course, it became one of the most tactical races
ever on the Gold Coast course, with energy-saving slipstreaming the name of
the game.
According to Lappin, it helped that he and Hokinoue had raced each other
several times in the past.
Because we've lined up together a few times before, we knew what to expect
and, with the breeze a factor, we worked together along the course.
He said the slipstream effect worked for both frontrunners.
It was windy, so we didn't want to be out the front too long, and it was
good to have someone to work with.
You're always aware where everyone is during a race like this, so it's
important to hold your speed.
For Hokinoue's part, the better sprinter on the day was always likely to
win.
I've competed against Jake enough times to know how he races," Hokinoue
said.
"Jake is very good with sprinting and this time he did a good job of
slipstreaming to conserve energy for the sprint at the end.
"Competing on wheels, we're a bit different to runners who don't get such
opportunities to get behind each other and keep low to conserve energy.
"And that means staying very close along the whole course, which often
results in close finishes like that one today.
"Last year was OK, because I was alone and could run my own race, but this
year because we were neck and neck and Jake is the better sprinter, I just
couldn't match him at the end," he said.
The Women's CPL Wheelchair Marathon was won by someone who has made it her
own over the past decade.
Seven-time Olympian Christie Dawes has now won the event three times (2000,
2016 and 2024) and placed second in 2019, 2022 and last year.
And the expert television commentator-to-be at the Paris 2024 Paralympic
Games says she'll be back.
"Apart from quite a strong headwind, the weather is beautiful, the course
is great, it's nice and flat and on home soil this is as good as it gets,"
she said.
Dawes (1:54:36) said she appreciated a bit of help with her pace along the
way.
"You see the start list and you know that you're going to be on your own,
but I was able to push with Bill Chaffey.
"We are separate classifications so we can't draft and work together in a
slipstream but even sitting beside each other and knowing you've got
someone and you're not lonely helps incredibly.
"I've had a disrupted preparation and lacked consistency through just life,
and I just wanted to come out and have a good hit out and know that I could
still comfortably get under 1:55 so that was nice," she said.
CPL Wheelchair 10km
Emily Tapp has taken back-to-back 10km CPL Wheelchair races on the Gold
Coast, eclipsing the race record she set last year (31:41) by over two
minutes (28:36).
2000 and 2004 Paralympian Geoff Trappett finished second in 30:26 with NSW
speedster Jono Tang third in 32:12.
Tapp saw good and bad in the on-course conditions.
"Today there was a bit of a breeze, we did have a head wind going out to
the first turn and then it was really nice at the 5km mark with a lovely
tail wind coming along the highway," she said.
"The transition from Paratriathlon to athletics has been great, I'm loving
it and trying to grow into this for next year.
"The Gold Coast Marathon is always really inclusive for wheelchair athletes
and I remember doing my first race here in 2016, so it's fantastic," she
said.
A self-effacing Trappett said he turned up without a race plan.
"I went in with absolutely no race plans; I try to come up with race plans,
but I'm just not smart enough," he laughed.
"Originally, I was a sprinter, I represented Australia in the Sydney and
Athens Olympics in the 100m and 200m, so trying half marathons and 10kms
today is a different experience," he said.
Southern Cross University 10km Run
Melbourne's Haftu Strintzos (24) and South Australian 26-year-old Caitlin
Adams have taken the spoils in this year's Southern Cross University 10km
Run.
They were breakthrough Gold Coast wins for the Ethiopian-born, Craig
Mottram-trained Strintzos (28:53) and Adams (33:23) who has run here plenty
of times before.
The Craig Mottram-trained Strintzos dominated the men's field, flashing
across the finish line in 28:53 with Jack Bruce from the Melbourne Track
Club taking second (29:33) and last year's winner 25-year-old Victorian
Dale Carroll (29:48) finishing third.
The Ethiopian one-time sheep shepherd Strintzos said he enjoyed the run and
the chance to stretch his legs on the fast road course.
And he said his strategy was as simple as it was effective.
"I didn't have a race plan to be honest, it was just to be the first down
the road.
"This was the first road 10km I've done in a long time, and it was a great
atmosphere out there.
"It was amazing and unlike anything I've experienced before. I'm excited
and I'll come back and do it all again next year," he said.
Adams said she enjoyed her win as she drew on inspiration all around her.
"The race was incredible; I was so inspired by everyone in the half
marathon, so I was fuelled for my race today and knew I just had to come
out here and have some fun.
"The win means a lot, it's great to represent my team ASICS," she said.
Over 4500 runners faced the starter for the 10km test on Sunday.
Gold Coast Airport 5km
A self-coached sparkie with a solid international triathlon background from
Hervey Bay has brought the Gold Coast Airport 5km race home with a
lightning finish.
And while Toby Powers (14:42) lived up to his name, 2023 women's champion
Olga Firsova (15:57) became the first woman to win back-to-back titles.
"It was awesome, the crowds are amazing, even the other athletes are so
supportive," Toby said.
"You can't not run fast, it's a very fun and quick course," he said of the
flat streetscape.
In taking the win, Powers tipped out a namesake in 17-year-old Toby
Chippendale from Brisbane who said he'll take some learnings away.
"I tried to go out fast with Toby, but I died pretty hard at 2.5km," Toby
[Chippendale] said.
"This race brings everyone together. You get to race some of the older boys
and learn a bit from the masters," he said.
England born-Brisbane-based runner Jordan Skelly (32) said he was up for a
test.
"My race plan was to go out and see what the body's got," he said.
And he said he was lifted by the unfamiliar enthusiasm of the crowd.
"Back home in England we don't have an atmosphere like this," he said.
Olga, a 41-year-old Russian-born international runner now living on the
Sunshine Coast said she came meaning business.
"I came for the podium, and I won, what more can you want?
"I needed the win for my confidence after a recent hip impact injury
[sustained while surfing] but the crowds are the reason I keep coming back
to the Gold Coast, and always will," she said.
Gold Coast Bulletin 2km Junior Dash
In the Gold Coast Bulletin 2km Junior Dash young speedster Judah Magarey
(6:35) made it two wins in a row for the first time in this event since
Matthew Lowe's 2016-2017 double while cross country specialist Ava Gard
took the girl's crown in 7:29.
Over 900 youngsters aged between 5 and 10 years of age faced the starter on
Saturday morning.
Judah, who aspires to play senior AFL football one day, also won this event
at the 2024 Toowoomba Marathon in May.
He said he was justifiably pleased with his effort.
"I'm pretty happy, but it's just a bit of a shame I didn't get the record,"
Judah said. "The crowd just erupts when you run by, and I think that's why
I'm back for my third time.
"I just want to run and have fun with it all," he said.
Ava said she has strong support for her burgeoning running career.
"My dad's my biggest supporter, he got me started," she said,
"I started at school cross country, and I've won every year since, My main
goal is to get to nationals for cross country.
"And my advice to other runners is just have fun, do your best," she said,
Gold Coast Bulletin 4km Junior Dash
Brisbane's Matt Turner (12:42) and 13-year-old Elke Rayward (13:53) took
out Saturday's Gold Coast Bulletin 4km Junior Dash men's and women's races.
They were the two speediest of the almost 500 young runners aged 14 or
under who took part in cool but runner-friendly conditions.
The early pace surprised Matt.
"I was a bit too fast out of the start, I was way too excited," he said. "I
had a race plan, but I didn't really follow it and my coach won't be too
happy about that.
"But I'm motivated to come back next year when hopefully I'll stick to my
race plan," he said.
For Elke it was back-to-back victories after her win here last year, the
result of leaving nothing in the tank.
"I love this race; I was giving it my all the whole way.
"It was my second time winning this event, I just love running with the
boys, they're so fast and they're good to push against.
"And I just love everyone cheering you whether they know you or not," she
said.
Wheelchair 4km Race
A 14-year-old from Windaroo and a wheelchair racing newbie snared a piece
of history on Saturday morning as the first ever winners of the Gold Coast
Wheelchair 4km Race.
Josh Brass (15:33) has been wheelchair racing since the tender age of six
and has the legendary Kurt Fearnley as his inspiration.
And as far as tactics go, he said he just went for it.
"I started to get some speed especially from the hill at the start, I had
the momentum and I kept powering forward," Josh said of his simple but
effective strategy.
For women's winner, Gold Coaster Emily Foster (24:05), it was victory on
debut.
"I feel amazing, this was incredible experience for me," Emily said. "This
is my first ever race, I only started training seven weeks ago, every
Saturday under coach Garth Plank.
"This sport has given me a new spark and a new love of life," she said.
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