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Hometown hero reveals GC2018 marathon course

Published Mon 25 Sep 2017

Gold Coast native Michael Shelley has helped reveal the 2018 Commonwealth Games 42.195km marathon road course where he will defend his title next April.

Three Australian athletes aiming to be on the start line in April - Kurt Fearnley OAM, Shelley and Jessica Trengove - attended the announcement today at Burleigh Heads and gave their tick of approval for the course. 

Earlier this year Shelley showed good form by placing ninth at the London Marathon, coming within 23 seconds of his personal best of 2:11.15 that he ran to win at the 2014 Games in Glasgow.

“I’m really looking forward to running on the Gold Coast as it’s my home town,” GC2018 ambassador Shelley said.

“I’m born and bred in Gold Coast, so it’s going to be amazing having so many school friends as well as family and friends here lining the streets.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE GC2018 MARATHON VIDEO COURSE GUIDE

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) chairman Peter Beattie AC was also on hand to unveil the course saying it would provide an engaging experience for the community and visitors on the final day of competition.

"We are delighted to be able to deliver a spectacular course for the marathon which is one of the iconic events in the history of the Commonwealth Games,” Beattie said.

"The marathon course is not only flat and conducive to fast racing, it is one of the most picturesque in the world and will showcase the Gold Coast to a global audience of 1.5 billion people."

The course will enable fans to get up close to the action from Runaway Bay in the north to Burleigh Heads in the south.

Trengove too is in form this season with a 2:27.01 to place tenth at the London Marathon just over three months before finishing ninth at the world championships in the English capital.

The 30-year-old came home strong at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to claim a bronze medal.

“Look I’m really excited for the same reasons,” Trengove said.

“I can’t wait to wear the Green and Gold in front of a home crowd, it’s a stunning coastline here and I love the sunshine and I hope to see you all there.”

Starting and finishing at the Southport Broadwater Parklands, the course will take runners and wheelchair athletes to a northern turn (4.4km) at Runaway Bay, on a flat and scenic route to a southern turn (25.3km) at Burleigh Heads, before an exciting final stretch back to Southport for the finish.

The wheelchair marathon, which will be held for the first time ever at a Commonwealth Games, will start at 6:10am, with the women’s marathon at 7:20am and men’s marathon at 8:15am.

GC2018 ambassador and multiple wheelchair racer champion Fearnley will get an opportunity to add yet another medal to his trophy cabinet.

"The wheelchair marathon at these Games presents a first for me as an athlete – in all my years racing around the world this is the first time I get to share the same stage with my able bodied peers whilst racing in the green and gold for Australia,” Fearnley said.

“I love the opportunity of being able to start this race just moments before the able bodied runners. 

"It’s been great to see the course developed from grassroots as well as the amount of work that goes in behind the scenes to make this marathon a reality.

"I’m in a privileged position as part of the GC2018 Sport and Technical Committee and am now even more excited to get on that starting line."

As one of the free events on the GC2018 program, fans will be able to line the course and create a memorable atmosphere for the athletes on the final day of competition.

A comprehensive public awareness program called Get Set for the Games is being rolled out to ensure residents and businesses know how they can access certain areas at Games time.