Tanui chasing Gold Coast Marathon three-peat
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 29.06.25. | 15:34
Eleven men boasting a sub-2:10 PB will make up a fleet-footed competitive field led by Ethiopia’s Gizealew Ayana
Two-time Gold Coast Marathon winner Rodah Tanui will be back on the streets of Australia on Saturday, 5 July, chasing what will be a third win in as many starts.
The 34-year-old dominated the 2019 and 2023 editions and has set her sights on making it a perfect three from three.
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In what organizers term the most competitive field in history, Tanui goes up against compatriots led by 44-year-old Caroline Kilel, a 2:22:34 runner and the winner of the 2011 Boston Marathon, who also boasts a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, as well as debutant Rebecca Chesir, who holds a 2:24:25 personal best (PB).
Tanui leads the trio in a chase for the current women’s record of 2:24:22 set by Japan’s Yuki Nakamura in last year’s race.
They will be joined by Mongolia’s Khishigsaikhan Galbadrakh (2:26:32), Alemtsehay Zerihun (2:27:39), and debut marathoner Tegest Ymer, who are looking to the Gold Coast as a breakthrough race onto the world marathon circuit.
Top contender for the female Oceania Marathon Championship, Australia’s Milly Clark (2:26:59), who placed second in the 2019 Gold Coast Marathon, will be looking to outrun a quality field for the title.
The elite women’s field also includes Hong Kong marathon national record holder, Kit Ching Yui (2:31:24), Indonesia’s Odekta Naibaho (2:34:05), Rochelle Di Masi (2:34:45), Kobe Marathon representative Natsuki Ogawa (2:36:42), Gold Coast based Estonian born Riine Ringi (2:36:51), and Ella McCartney (2:38:43) rounding out the women’s elite field contesting.
Meanwhile, 11 men boasting a sub-2:10 PB will make up a fleet-footed competitive field led by Ethiopia’s Gizealew Ayana, who takes to the start line with the fastest PB 2:07:15, achieved in winning his debut marathon against a quality field in the 2023 Paris Marathon.
He goes up against Kenyan Matthew Samperu (2:07:25), Japan’s 2013 Gold Coast Marathon winner Yuki Kawauchi (2:07:27), and fellow Ethiopian Derese Workneh (2:07:46).
Also boasting sub-2:10 PBs and with five out of the last ten Gold Coast Marathon men’s winners hailing from Japan, Japanese runners Mizuki Higashi (2:08.03), Yuki Kakei (2:08:06), Ryoma Takeuchi (2:08:40) and Ryuichi Hashimoto (2:09:40) will also be doing their best to uphold the successful reputation the country has in marathon running in Australia.
Adding to the depth is a pair of young Kenyans in Athanas Kioko (2:10:56) and Vincent Kiprono (2:11:49), and a trio of young Japanese marathon debutants, Yuto Imae, Tatsuya Tsunashima, and Aoi Ota.
The current men’s race record is 2:07:40, set by Japan’s Naoki Koyama in 2023.
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