The greatest head-to-head clash in Gold Coast Airport Marathon history will steal the spotlight in the men’s elite field this year with equal course record holders, Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi and Kenya’s Nicholas Manza, headlining the race with both men aiming to defend their record and claim a podium finish on Sunday 6 July.

It’s been three years since Manza broke the long-standing 22-year-old men’s marathon course record previously held by Olympian Brad Camp. In this race Manza executed an exceptional run that resulted in him breasting the tape in 2:10:01, lowering Camp’s course record by 10 seconds.

Manza’s win was not only significant for the Gold Coast Airport Marathon but also for the Gold Coast as his victory was witnessed by 2018 Commonwealth Games voting delegates including Kenyan Dr. Kipchoge Keino boosting the city’s bid to host the international multi-sport event.

However, Manza’s efforts would be equalled two years later when Kawauchi returned to the Gold Coast last year, sprinting to the line in a nail-biting course record equaling time.

The awarding of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Road Race Gold Label earlier this year has been attributed to Manza’s decision to return to the Gold Coast, setting up an eagerly awaited showdown which is expected to produce a new course and Australian all comers record.

Manza, who holds a marathon personal best of 2:06:34 recorded in 2011, will be looking to put the heat on Japan’s most widely recognised marathoner Kawauchi after placing fourth (2:12:01) at this year’s Prague Marathon in testing conditions, and, fourth at the Berlin Marathon in 2012 with a strong 2:08:28.

“I have very fond memories of the Gold Coast as it was my first ever marathon win,” Manza said.

“I am really looking forward to coming back and racing, especially since it is now an IAAF gold label race and knowing that Yuki Kawauchi will also be there.

“To have the co-course record holders both racing is pretty special, I’m training really hard to win the race again in a new course record time.”

Kawauchi, who is also a sub-2:10 marathoner, having run a personal best 2:08:14 in Seoul last year, will arrive on the Gold Coast with at least six marathons under his belt for the year including four course records and an impressive seventh sub-2:10 career marathon.

This year will mark the 27-year-old’s third consecutive time racing on the Gold Coast and believes he will use his course experience to his advantage over Manza and the rest of the elite field.

“This year’s race will go down in Australian running history and I’m honoured to be a part of it. As the event has obtained the IAAF Road Race Gold Label we will see quite a few leading runners from around the world which will result in a fierce race and hopefully an Australian record,” Kawauchi said.

“With my confidence as a two-time Gold Coast Airport Marathon runner and course-record holder I’m really looking forward to competing against runners from Africa, and of course my own Japanese rivals.”

Not only will both men be tested by each other but they will be challenged by the fastest elite field in the race’s history led by eighth all-time fastest Japanese marathoner and Olympian Arata Fujiwara who boasts a 2:07:48 personal best as well as fellow countryman and 2014 Tokyo Marathon third placegetter Hirokatsu Kurosaki.

Events Management Queensland CEO Cameron Hart said the match up between Manza and Kawauchi is an exciting addition to this year’s event and is confident their battle on course will lead to a new course record.

“The stars have aligned perfectly to welcome back both course record holders to the Gold Coast and we’re thrilled to give both athletes the opportunity to defend their record times,” said Mr Hart.

“With the depth of our elite field this year, we’re sure both Manza and Kawauchi will be pushed from the start line to the finish, leading to the possibility of a new course record which will elevate our event to even greater heights for next year.”

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon became the first marathon in Australia to be awarded an IAAF Road Race Gold Label at the beginning of 2014 and will be held on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July in one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world in Queensland, Australia.

This year’s event is on track to attract 30,000 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.

For more information visit www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au.

Elite Profiles

Name                                    Nicholas Manza
DOB                                      2 March 1985
Country                               Kenya
Marathon PB                      2:06:34 (Amsterdam, 2011)
Half Marathon PB             1:00:09 (Prague, 2009)
10,000m                             28:16.77 (Nairobi, 2008)

Name                                   Yuki Kawauchi
DOB                                      5 March 1987
Country                               Japan
Marathon PB                      2:08:14 (Seoul, 2013)
Half Marathon PB             1:02:18 (Marugame, 2012)
10,000m                            29:28.04 (Tokyo, 2006)