Written by Grace Kalac – Runner’s Tribe

The Aussies have produced some classy performances this weekend at the 40th edition of the Gold Coast Marathon.

It was personal bests galore up in the Sunshine State, as some of Australia’s best distance stars showcased their Winter fitness.

In the Women’s marathon on Sunday morning, Ruth Chebitok (Kenya) took accolades as she ran a course-record and personal best performance of 2:24.49. Aussie marathon sensation Jess Trengove ran brilliantly, taking second place in a 32-second personal best of 2:26:31. She had a perfectly-timed run, crossing the halfway mark at 1:12:18, and was rewarded for her gusty efforts. By breaking the 2:28 barrier, she also takes home a once-only $40,000 Australian athlete incentive offered by organisers. Kenyan’s Agness Barsosio finished third in 2:27:46. Miharu Shimokado (Japan) took fourth in 2:29.38 and Celia Sullohern placed a credible fifth (2:30:19).

In the Men’s event, Kenyan Kenneth Mungara won his third Gold Coast Marathon (2:09:49). But the win did not come easily. It was a close finish with Japan’s Kenta Murayama, who finished just one second behind in 2:09:50. Fellow Japanese athlete Jo Fukuda finished third in 2:09:52. 2017 World Championships representative Jack Colreavy was the first Aussie home in 14th spot and named the Oceania Marathon Champion. It was a huge run by Colreavy, a new lifetime best of 2:17:48.

Jack Rayner stunned in the ASICS half-marathon on Sunday morning, claiming line honours in a breakthrough personal best of 1:03:12. William Chebor (Kenya) was second 1:03:28 and Ed Goddard finished third in 1:04:07, another huge personal best. Collis Birmingham (1:04:28) and Nick Earl (1:04:31) rounded out the top five.

In the Women’s section, American Sara Hall defended her title as she cruised to a 1:09:27 victory. Not far behind was Sinead Diver, who clocked a two-minute personal best of 1:09:53. Third to cross the line was American Laura Thweatt (1:10:17), followed by Anna Matsuda in fourth (1:10:52) and Ellie Pashley in fifth (1:10:57).

Jordan Gusman blitzed Saturday morning’s Southern Cross University 10km run, taking victory in 28:42 ahead of Andy Buchanan (second, 29:23) and Adrian Potter (third, 29:57). Max Stevens (30:08) and Cody Shanahan (30:28) came through in fourth and fifth respectively.

Madeline Hills dominated the Women’s event, clocking 32:35, with Marnie Ponton (33:12) and Caitlin Adams (33:27) taking out the minor places. Caitlin Adams crossed the line in fourth in 33:27 and Charlotte Wilson snagged fifth place in 34:08.

In Saturday’s Gold Coast Airport 5.7km event, Mitchell Thompson was victorious in the Men’s, clocking 17:16. Hamish Granger (17:43) and Allen Dennis (17:51) rounded out the podium, with Ky Robinson (18:12) and Justin Angel (18:29) finishing in fourth and fifth. First to cross the line for the women was Emily Casaclang (20:36), followed by Courtney Scott (second, 21:02), Maighan Brown (third, 21:09), Leahrose Hooper (fourth, 21:34) and Mia White (fifth, 21:55).

The Gold Coast Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, and attracts around 25,000 participants from over 50 countries across its eight races each year.

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