PREIVEW | Australian Half Marathon Championships - Sunshine Coast

The roads of the Sunshine Coast are set to be scorched by some of Australia’s biggest names in distance running this Sunday, as Olympians lead the way for elite fields and the masses in a bid to be crowned 2023 Australian Half Marathon champions.

Set to be raced amidst an action-packed Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival beginning on Saturday, the 21.1km trip on Sunday (August 13) has attracted Olympic talent from around the country, including marathoners Ellie Pashley and Liam Adams, and the track-turned-road duo of Genevieve and Ryan Gregson.

The men’s side of the equation is spearheaded by Olympic marathoner Liam Adams (VIC, Ken Hall) who blasted his way to a 2:08:39 personal best at July’s Gold Coast Marathon, now dropping down to the half marathon where he owns a 1:02:15 personal best.

Adams’ 2022 Commonwealth Games teammate Andy Buchanan (VIC, Scott Westcott) will be out to rewrite his career-best of 1:02:50 which has stood since 2019, with the two Victorians poised to do battle for the greater good of the state’s team – which also features 1:02:03 runner Joel Tobin-White (VIC, Nic Bideau) and Australian representative Andre Waring (VIC, Steve Dinneen).

Former Australian 1500m record holder Ryan Gregson (QLD, Nic Bideau) raced to the best performance of his short career on the roads to date with a 1:03:40 showing at the Gold Coast Half Marathon for a top-five finish, with the 33-year-old eager to continue building towards his debut marathon in a testament to his longevity.

Riley Cocks (SA, self coached) continues to quietly about his business, yet has developed into a high-calibre athlete who consistently places himself with a fighting chance in races of this nature. The South Australian posted a personal best of 1:02:43 in Marugame this February, and alongside brother Jacob Cocks (SA, self coached) will be out to shake things up on the Sunshine Coast.

The Sunshine Coast has proven to be a happy hunting ground for Ellie Pashley (VIC, Julian Spence) who raced to a personal best of 1:09:14 at the 2019 instalment in the event, toeing the line in 2023 as one of the form athletes after a strong run of 1:09:26 at last month’s Gold Coast Half Marathon.

Both giving birth on June 15, 2022 Pashley and Genevieve Gregson (QLD, Nic Bideau) will go head-to-head in a battle of Australia’s two newest Marathon Mums, with the pair set to scribe another chapter in their flourishing careers with newfound perspectives.

Gregson’s only showing over the half marathon distance came at Gifu, Japan in February this year where she raced to a time of 1:11:57, but the 34-year-old’s stunning 2:28:33 marathon debut last month indicates the national 3000m steeplechase record holder has more to give come Sunday.

Tara Palm (SA, PJ Bosch) looms as the next threat to the podium with a personal best of 1:11:27 to her name and strong form throughout her 2023 campaign, while Sinead Noonan (WA, Raf Baugh) and Marnie Ponton (NSW, Dick Telford) will also race prominently for the minor medals.

More information about the 2023 Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival and Australian Half Marathon Championships can be found HERE.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 10/8/2023