Australian Madison de Rozario returned to the scene of her Commonwealth Games marathon gold with a dominant display of wheelchair racing

Australian para athletics star Madison de Rozario claimed another victory on the Gold Coast this morning, taking out the Wheelchair Marathon at the Gold Coast Marathon.

After winning double gold on the Gold Coast in April’s Commonwealth Games, the 24-year-old returned to the scene of her marathon gold with a dominant display of wheelchair racing.

De Rozario (NSW) won her first Gold Coast Marathon in 1:48:21, the second fastest time ever recorded at the event. Christie Dawes maintained the race record of 1:43:45.

Coached by Australian para sport legend and a former Gold Coast Marathon winner herself Louise Sauvage, de Rozario finished clear of second placegetter Eliza Ault-Connell (NSW) who clocked 1:51:22.

In a repeat of recent history, de Rozario and Ault Connell were first and second in the Commonwealth Games, although only 13 seconds separated them on that occasion.

US Paralympian Josh George claimed the men’s Wheelchair Marathon in 1:38:04

US Paralympian Josh George won the men’s Wheelchair Marathon in 1:38:04 and, in doing so, became the third fastest performer in the race’s history.

Aiming for a fifth Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020, the 34-year-old pushed clear early in the race and proved too strong for his rivals over the 42.195km distance.

Last year’s winner Richard Colman from Victoria finished second in 1:59:25

In the Wheelchair 15km and with big crowds cheering on the athletes at its finish at Burleigh Heads, ACT 25-year-old Roxy Jones won in 1:06:18 from Emily Preketes of NSW who clocked 1:15:05.

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The 40th  edition Gold Coast Marathon will feature eight races including the Gold Coast Marathon, Wheelchair Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, Wheelchair 15km, Southern Cross University 10km Run, Gold Coast Airport Fun Run, Garmin 4km Junior Dash and Garmin 2km Junior Dash.

The Gold Coast Marathon is organised by Events Management Queensland, a major event management company wholly owned by the Queensland Government as part of Tourism and Events Queensland.