2015 women’s marathon winner Risa Takenaka and 2013 men’s winner Yuki Kawauchi from Japan will return to the Gold Coast Airport Marathon on Sunday 2 July

Two previous winners Yuki Kawauchi and Risa Takenaka will lead a strong Japanese charge at the 39^th Gold Coast Airport Marathon on Sunday 2 July.

A flat and fast course will provide the stage for this IAAF Road Race Gold Label event with one of the strongest elite fields ever assembled to fight out the 42.195km race.

One of the most popular runners in world athletics Kawauchi, 30, will return to the scene of his epic runner up finish last year behind Kenneth Mungara of Kenya.

The two will do battle once again with Kawauchi hoping he can win this coveted race once again as he did in 2013.

Takenaka had a breakout year in 2015 with a win on the Gold Coast and setting her personal best of 2:28:09 in Nagoya.

The 27-year-old will be attempting to continue the stranglehold that Japanese runners have had on the women’s race with a total of 14 winners including the past five.

2015 Gold Coast Airport Marathon winner Risa Takenaka will make her return to the Gold Coast Airport Marathon on Sunday 2 July

In the men’s race, Japan will have a very strong contingent of runners with Kawauchi joined by sub-2:13 marathon runners Chiharu Takada, Takuya Noguchi, Ryo Hashimoto, Shoya Osaki and Takuya Suzuki.

Takada placed fourth in last year’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon in 2:10:43 so will have the benefit of experience, while Noguchi has recorded a personal best of 2:11:04 already this year in Tokyo so will come with strong form.

In the women’s race, Takenaka will be joined by Misako Kato, Azusa Nojiri, Sakie Ishibashi, Hirono Shintate and Azusa Nojiri, with Kato a strong chance of a podium finish with a personal best of 2:31:04 set last year in Osaka.

As part of a sister marathon arrangement, two placegetters at last year’s Kobe Marathon in Japan were invited to run in the Gold Coast Airport Marathon with Shintate taking up the opportunity in the women’s race and Yuki Yagi in the men’s race.

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon will once again have a strong prize money pool with the male and female winner of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon to be awarded 20,000 AUD. There will be additional time bonuses available for top five placegetters with full information available at goldcoastmarathon.com.au/enter/prizes-rewards/.

Events Management Queensland CEO Cameron Hart said he was delighted to announce another strong and deep Japanese elite field in the Gold Coast Airport Marathon.

“The Gold Coast Airport Marathon has such a strong reputation in Japan and continues to attract quality elite runners as well as thousands of holiday runners,” Mr Hart said.

“It is wonderful that Yuki Kawauchi is returning for his sixth consecutive Gold Coast Airport Marathon before going on to contest the marathon at the World Championships in London in August.

“Our 2015 winner Risa Takenaka and last year’s fourth placegetter Chiharu Takada are also returning and we look forward to welcoming many newcomers to the Gold Coast who will all be striving for personal best times and some for the podium.”

Japanese Gold Coast Airport Marathon veteran Yuki Kawauchi will make his sixth consecutive appearance on Sunday 2 July

Elite men from Japan

Yuki Kawauchi
PB: 2:08:14 – Seoul, 2013

Chiharu Takada
PB: 2:10:03 – Fukuoka, 2014

Takuya Noguchi
PB: 2:11:04 – Tokyo, 2017

Ryo Hashimoto
PB: 2:11:20 – Hofu, 2016

Shoya Osaki
PB: 2:12:07 – Otsu, 2017

Takuya Suzuki
PB: 2:12:08 – Oita, 2017

Takafumi Kikuchi
PB: 2:15:06 – Sapporo, 2016

Takahiro Yoda
PB: 2:17:17 – Tokyo, 2011

Takehiko Gyoba
PB: 2:19:12 – Matsuyama, 2017

Takemaru Yamasaki
PB: 2:20:30 – Ehime, 2017

Yuki Yagi
PB: 2:24:30 – Kobe, 2016

Yuta Takahashi
PB: Debut marathon (1:02:13 half marathon – 2015)

Elite women from Japan

Risa Takenaka
PB: 2:28:09 – Nagoya, 2015

Misaki Kato
PB: 2:31:04 – Osaka, 2016

Sakie Ishibashi
PB: 2:41:27 – Tsuchiura, 2015

Hirono Shintate
PB: 2:42:55 – Kobe, 2016

Azusa Nojiri
PB: 2:24:57 – Osaka, 2012 (aiming for sub 2:45 this year)

The full elite field for the Gold Coast Airport Marathon will be announced tomorrow (Wednesday 7 June) as part of Global Running Day.

The Queensland Government is proud to support the 2017 Gold Coast Airport Marathon through Tourism and Events Queensland as part of the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.

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 42.195km, Wheelchair Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, Wheelchair 15km, Southern Cross University 10km Run, The Star Gold Coast 5.7km Challenge, Zespri 4km Junior Dash and Zespri 2km Junior Dash.