Race Report: Runners take flight in the Gold Coast Airport 5km

A self-coached sparkie with a solid international triathlon background from Hervey Bay has brought the Gold Coast Airport 5km race home with a lightning finish.

And while Toby Powers (14:42) lived up to his name, 2023 women’s champion Olga Firsova (15:57) became the first woman to win back-to-back titles.

“It was awesome, the crowds are amazing, even the other athletes are so supportive,” Toby said.

“You can’t not run fast, it’s a very fun and quick course,” he said of the flat streetscape.

In taking the win, Powers tipped out a namesake in 17-year-old Toby Chippendale from Brisbane who said he’ll take some learnings away.

“I tried to go out fast with Toby, but I died pretty hard at 2.5km,” Toby [Chippendale] said.

“This race brings everyone together. You get to race some of the older boys and learn a bit from the masters,” he said.

England born-Brisbane-based runner Jordan Skelly (32) said he was up for a test.

“My race plan was to go out and see what the body’s got,” he said.

And he said he was lifted by the unfamiliar enthusiasm of the crowd.

“Back home in England we don’t have an atmosphere like this,” he said.

Olga, a 41-year-old Russian-born international runner now living on the Sunshine Coast said she came meaning business.

“I came for the podium, and I won, what more can you want?

“I needed the win for my confidence after a recent hip impact injury [sustained while surfing] but the crowds are the reason I keep coming back to the Gold Coast, and always will,” she said,