Last chance for marathoners to qualify for Tokyo

Australia's marathoners will have their final shot at qualifying for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic marathon this Sunday, 25th April at Sydney International Regatta Centre.

With travel restrictions and the uncertainty of mass participation events going ahead, many of Australia's prospective Tokyo athletes have not had their usual opportunities to qualify for the Tokyo 202 marathon at major events. As such Athletics Australia has set up an event to provide athletes with their final chance to impress selctors and meet the qualifying standards needed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

While Australia already has its maximum number of qualified runners, there is still a chance for runners to prove themselves worthy of selection, if they are faster than the already qualified runners.

There will be keen interest in Australia's Michael Roeger who will attempt to break his own T46 world record of 2hr, 19:33. Roeger is the current World Champion in the T46 event, a title he earned when he broke the World Record at the London Marathon in 2019.

Coming all the way from New Zealand on ANZAC Day are Ruth Croft and Caden Shields who will take part in the event in a bid to make the New Zealand Olympic Team.

Croft has a personal best of 2hr 34.18 and is the sole woman in the field, after a number of withdrawals and is in a position to challenge the Olympic qualifying standard. Shields has a personal best of 2hr 15.37 and is expected to go head-to-head with Great Britain's, Nicholas Earl, with a personal best of 2 hr 14:38. Ecuador's Christian Vasconez will also be pushing for the win with a personal best of 2 hr 15.58.

An interesting side-bar will be international triathlon hero Brad Kahlefeldt who is also competing.

Athletics Australia President Mark Arbib said: 

"We'd love to see as many spectators as possible at this free event at the Regatta Centre on Sunday and be inspired by some of our best elite and up-and-coming athletes, including Michael Roeger who is going for the World Record."

Pont3, the organisers of the famous annual Sydney Running Festival, will be delivering the event on behalf of Athletics Australia. CEO Wayne Larden said, "We're super excited to be giving the athletes this chance to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics after a horrendous 2020 for athletes and events generally. We are donating our time to support these athletes and give them every possible chance to achieve their dreams and make the Tokyo Olympic Games."

Athletes qualified for the Tokyo Olympics:

Men: Qualifying standard - 2hr11.30

1. Liam Adams (VIC): 2hr11.30
2. Brett Robinson (VIC): 2hr10.55
3. Jack Rayner (VIC): 2hr11.06

Women: Qualifying Standard - 2hr29.30

1. Sinead Diver (VIC): 2hr24.11
2. Lisa Weightman (VIC): 2hr26.02
3. Ellie Pashley (VIC): 2hr26.23

Details:

Tokyo 202 Qualifying race
Venue: Sydney International Regatta Centre - Old Castlereagh Rd, Penrith
Date and time: Sunday, 25 April at 7am
Tickets: Free spectator event

For more information about the start list or course, click here. 

By Pont3 Media
Posted: 22.4.2021