This year’s 39th annual Gold Coast Airport Marathon will feature a rematch between Kenya’s Kenneth Mungara and Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi, the two road warriors who last year fought out the closest finish in the event’s history.

Mungara will come to the Gold Coast in great form again after posting a runner-up finish in Sunday’s Milan Marathon in Italy in 2:09:37 – the race that has become his traditional lead-up to the Gold Coast.

On the same day, Kawauchi notched his sixth marathon since last year’s run on the Gold Coast and placed sixth at the Daegu International Marathon in South Korea (2:13:04). He will build up to the Gold Coast Airport Marathon by racing in May’s Prague Marathon and June’s ASICS Stockholm Marathon.

Gold Coast Airport Marathon CEO Cameron Hart today confirmed Mungara and Kawauchi have signed up for this year’s renewal, a prestigious IAAF Gold Label Road Race event, to be held on Sunday 2 July.

“Last year’s dramatic finish between these two champions was one of the most memorable in the event’s history and I’m thrilled to welcome both men back to the Gold Coast in July,” Mr Hart said.

“These two great runners, along with the rest of the elite field which will be announced shortly, will put the race record under threat and vindicate our position as Australia’s fastest marathon.

“Our ability to attract first-class international elite runners is a testament to the standard of our event and our flat, fast course located in one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations.”

Last year Mungara added to his 2015 victory when he won an epic showdown with Kawauchi by a single second, breaking the finish tape in 2:09:00.

Kenneth Mungara broke the tape one second ahead of Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi in one of the most dramatic finishes in event history last year

The win put Mungara in illustrious company as he joined compatriot Fred Kiprop (1998/99) and Queensland running legend Pat Carroll (1984/85) as the only back-to-back winners of the men’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon.

If he can win again this year, it will be the first hat-trick by a male in the Gold Coast Airport Marathon and equalling the female feat set by Gold Coast local Margaret Reddan from 1984-86.

Mungara, the 43-year-old former barber, won his first Gold Coast Airport Marathon in 2015 in 2:08:42, a time that remains the fastest ever run on Australian roads.

“The course is good and the race is well organised and that is important but it is also important to feel the excitement of the people,” Mungara said.

“I like the Gold Coast Airport Marathon course, the people and the post-event activity like seeing and interacting with the exotic Australian animals.”

Kenya’s Kenneth Mungara narrowly beat Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi by one second at the 2016 Gold Coast Airport Marathon

With three months to go until the next edition of the ‘duel by the pool’, Mungara is looking forward to clashing with Kawauchi and the other elite runners on the Gold Coast.

“Yuki is great,” Mungara said. “He competes and races all the time as well as works. He is a fantastic gentleman and I am looking forward to seeing him again.”

Mungara said he would love to win a third Gold Coast Airport Marathon and set another world masters record.

“If pacemakers do the job and the weather cooperates, running fast on the Gold Coast is possible,” Mungara said.

“I would love to set another marathon (masters) world record, that’s for sure.”

Kawauchi will be making his sixth consecutive appearance at the Gold Coast Airport Marathon and gunning for his second victory.

Kenneth Mungara interviewed by the media after his back-to-back victory at the 2016 Gold Coast Airport Marathon

The popular 30-year-old runner’s effort last year, along with his 2013 victory in 2:10:01, are two of the 10 fastest marathon times ever recorded in Australia.

This year’s race will have extra significance for Kawauchi as it will provide vital preparation for the IAAF World Championships in London a month later when he will represent Japan.

He qualified for the World Championships by placing third in December’s Fukuoka International Marathon in 2:09:11.

“For me, the Gold Coast Airport Marathon, as a IAAF Gold Label race, is a very important race every summer,” Kawauchi said.

“This time (2017) it is very special for me as it will be my final race prior to the London World Championships.”

Kawauchi said the Gold Coast Airport Marathon continued to be very popular amongst Japanese runners because of its calendar date, course and conditions.

“Because there are no races in Japan and the northern hemisphere during our summer, marathon runners from Japan are always very keen to join the Gold Coast Airport Marathon,” Kawauchi said.

“The Gold Coast Airport Marathon offers a very attractive race with no time difference, a flat course and good weather conditions, which are very good for a runner’s body and health.”

Yuki Kawauchi (2nd), Kenneth Mungara (1st) and Abdelhadi El Hachimi (3rd) celebrated their podium finish at the 2016 Gold Coast Airport Marathon

The confirmation of these two combatants is likely to attract significant public interest if social media is anything to go by. A video posted last week to Facebook of the epic finish from last year generated more than 630,000 views and 4,400 shares.

Both Mungara and Kawauchi came to prominence in global marathon circles in 2011 – Mungara placing second in the Prague Marathon in 2:07:36 and Kawauchi placing third in the Tokyo Marathon in 2:08:37.

These two runners will head a long list of elite runners to be confirmed during the coming months leading into this year’s race.

The 39th annual Gold Coast Airport Marathon will be held on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 July.

Set to attract more than 27,000 participants of all ages and abilities, this year’s race program will feature the Gold Coast Airport Marathon over 42.2km, Wheelchair Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, Wheelchair 15km, Southern Cross University 10km Run, 5.7km Challenge, Zespri 4km Junior Dash and Zespri 2km Junior Dash.

Kenyan barber Kenneth Mungara became another back-to-back winner of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon in an epic ‘duel by the pool’ with Japanese rival Yuki Kawauchi on Sunday 3 July 2016.

Mungara (2:09:00) had to work for his win, which came about after a brutal 15km head-to-head battle with 2013 winner Kawauchi, who fell just one second short of his own Gold Coast double (2:09.01).

After the drama that was had on the course, it was fitting that the finish was the closest in the history of the men’s race.

After about 25km, Kawauchi made a telling break on the field and looked set to dictate terms before reigning champion Mungara dug deep, reeled him back in and claimed the lead.

For the final 15km their tussle saw the rest of the field fall behind. A pattern had been set with the two exchanging the lead numerous times.

At the 40km mark it was looking more and more like the race would go down to the wire and that’s exactly how it played out. In a finish for the ages, the 42-year-old Mungara surged clear and prevailed by a solitary second.