A mouth watering clash between Australia’s fastest debut marathoner Jeffrey Hunt and 2014 Australian marathon champion Rowan Walker will headline this year’s IAAF Oceania Area Marathon Championship held at the Gold Coast Airport Marathon on Sunday 5 July.

The championship makes its eighth consecutive appearance in the Gold Coast Airport Marathon race program and will feature many of Oceania’s best male and female marathoners contesting for a podium finish on one of the fastest and flattest courses in the nation.

2:11:00 marathoner, 2010 Commonwealth Games and 2012 Olympic Games representative Jeffrey Hunt will race the IAAF Road Race Gold Label marathon event for the first time and will draw on his past Gold Coast experience after becoming the first athlete to win back-to-back ASICS Half Marathons in 2010 and 2011.

The former number one Australian marathoner recently placed second at the 2015 Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon and will lead the men’s elite field as an early favourite followed by reigning IAAF Oceania Area Marathon champion Rowan Walker.

45-year-old Walker with a personal best of 2:18:01, has managed four IAAF Oceania Area Marathon Championship wins and a podium finish each year since its inauguration in 2008, will be vying for his third consecutive victory in the championship.

The ACT athlete, renowned as one of the most consistent marathon runners in the country, is a major threat after claiming the 2014 Australian Marathon Championship on the Gold Coast and winning the Canberra Marathon (2:26:27) earlier this year.

Brisbane local and 2012 IAAF Oceania Area Marathon Championship winner Jonathan Peters is also shaping up as a threat having recorded his marathon personal best on debut in that 2012 Gold Coast race (2:20:05) and ran a half marathon personal best (1:05:25) at the 2015 Christchurch Half Marathon.

2013 IAAF Oceania Area Marathon Championship second placegetter, New Zealand’s Tony Payne (2:24:55) rounds out the men’s elite field as a contender to take home a piece of the $6,000 prize pool.

After a few late withdrawals and Julia Degan’s recent selection in the Australian team to run the marathon at the 2015 Beijing World Championships, the women’s race is shaping up as a head-to-head showdown between 2011 Australian Marathon champion Kirsten Molloy (2:43:43) and Australian-based Kiwi and 2014 Christchurch Marathon second-placegetter Victoria Beck (2:43:45).

Oceania Athletics Association Executive Director Yvonne Mullins said the IAAF Oceania Area Marathon Championships consistently produces high-quality races and commended the Gold Coast Airport Marathon’s ability to attract the finest athletes from the Oceania region.

“This year’s event will once again deliver a fantastic racing spectacle with many of the best elite athletes from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands taking part with the hopes of being crowned the next male or female Oceania marathon champion,” Yvonne said.

“The Gold Coast Airport Marathon’s IAAF Road Race Gold Label, fast course and beautiful location are major drawcards for these athletes to compete on the Gold Coast which also aid the possibility for them to post a personal best.

“As hosts of the IAAF Oceania Area Marathon Championships for the past seven years, the event has shown its dedication to aiding the development of road running in the Oceania region.”

Events Management Queensland CEO Cameron Hart said the IAAF Oceania Area Marathon Championship has been an integral feature of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon for the past eight years and was a great opportunity for elite athletes to post fast times.

“We’ve been honoured to host the IAAF Oceania Area Marathon Championship every year since their inception in 2008 and over that time we have witnessed some incredible races and performances from our Oceanian elites,” Mr Hart said.

“We’re thrilled to have another high quality field of elites vying for the title and we’re certain our flat and fast course will provide the platform for a close championship finish in both the men’s and women’s races.”

The 2015 IAAF Oceania Area Marathon Championship is open to all athletes who are registered with an Oceania Federation (including associate members) and meet the IAAF rules for International Competition. The first three open men and women Oceania athletes to finish the Gold Coast Airport Marathon will be presented with Oceania Championship medals.

Men

Jeffrey Hunt (NSW) 2:11:00
Rowan Walker (ACT) 2:18:01
Jonathan Peters (QLD) 2:20:05
Tony Payne (NZL) 2:24:55

Women

Kirsten Molloy (NSW) 2:43:43
Victoria Beck (NZL) 2:43:45

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon will be held on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July in one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world in Queensland, Australia.

It is set to attract more than 27,000 participants of all ages and abilities across a number of events including the Gold Coast Airport Marathon, Wheelchair Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, Wheelchair 15km, Southern Cross University 10km Run, Suncorp Bank 5.7km Challenge and Junior Dash 4km & 2km races.

To enter or for more information visit goldcoastmarathon.com.au