Australia’s best distance runners are set to lock in their 2016 domestic campaign, with Athletics Australia confirming the calendar for next year’s series of road running championships.
Set to launch with the Australian Half Marathon Championships on Sunday 3 July, the calendar also confirmed Sunday 18 September and Sunday 16 October as the dates of theAustralian Road Running Championships and the Australian Marathon Championshipsrespectively.
The 2016 Australian Half Marathon Championships will be held as part of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon, one of the nation’s most reputable road races and one of only two running events in Australia carrying the IAAF Gold Label status.
For the first time, Adelaide (SA) will welcome the 2016 Australian Road Running Championships, with the Sunday Mail City-Bay Fun Run to feature an elite race to determine the male and female national champions across twelve kilometres.
The grand finale will be the 2016 Australian Marathon Championships, with the Medibank Melbourne Marathon set to play host for the first time since 2014. The event culminates on the hallowed turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with Jessica Trengove (SA) setting a personal best of 2:27:45 to win the event this year.
“The Medibank Melbourne Marathon, the Gold Coast Airport Marathon and the City-Bay Fun Run all have a rich history of success in delivering outstanding road races for tens of thousands of participants, both elite and recreational,” Phil Jones, Athletics Australia Chief Executive Officer, said.
“Athletics Australia is proud to partner with these exceptional running festivals to provide the opportunity for our best distance runners to duel for the coveted title of National Champion. The races are features of athletics’ 17-event Australian Championship suite and we look forward to a busy and exciting Australian competition period throughout 2016 with thousands of athletes preparing to take part.”
Australian Half Marathon Championships
Event: Gold Coast Airport Marathon
Date: Sunday 3 July 2016
Website: http://goldcoastmarathon.com.au/
Australian Road Running Championships
Event: Sunday Mail City-Bay Fun Run
Date: Sunday 18 September 2016
Website: http://www.city-bay.org.au/
Australian Marathon Championships
Event: Medibank Melbourne Marathon
Date: Sunday 16 October 2016
Website: http://melbournemarathon.com.au/
Athletics Australia has also confirmed details for the following winter season Australian championships:
Sunday 10 April Australian 50km Championships Canberra, ACT
Sunday 15 May Australian Mountain Running Championships Canberra, ACT
Sunday 12 June Australian 100km Championships Gold Coast, QLD
Sunday 21 August Australian Winter Walking Championships Canberra, ACT
For more information on the summer of athletics, please click here to visit the #SUMMERofATHShub.
