New father Craig Mottram overcame a restless night to take out the Southern Cross University 10km Run in today’s opening event of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon.

The 33-year-old Mottram, a four-time Olympian, sprinted away from crowd favourite, Gold Coaster Michael Shelley, to win in 29min38sec.

Shelley, who holds the record in the event at 28:53, crossed in second (29:45) with fellow Gold Coaster Jackson Elliott in third (29:55).

“I am going home to get some sleep. I think I had about two hours last night with a six-month-old in the room,’’ Mottram said after the race.

“I was not expecting to win today, my main aim was to come in the top three. I was conservative early then I went hard in the last 500 metres.

“For me now it will be back to the grind. I want to pick a marathon some stage in the next 12 months.

“The focus is to get some good running, but to also concentrate on being a father, get back to fulltime work and find a good work/life balance.

“It is very exciting after spending 15 years as an elite athlete and now to spend the rest of my life as a father and a sometimes athlete. I am really looking forward to it.”

For Mottram the Gold Coast 10km race was a stepping stone towards a possible shot at a place in the marathon at the 2016 Olympics. The Melbournian has already competed in all four Olympics from 2000-2012 in the 5000m event.

This was Mottram’s debut at the Gold Coast Airport Marathon, but for Shelley it was a continuation of a long-running love affair with the event.

Shelley has won here on six occasions. Today’s second will be added to the five victories he has etched in the 10km event and he also has been atop the podium in the half marathon in 2008 (1:02:41).

Gold Coasters have followed Shelley’s blossoming athletics career with interest. After becoming a local celebrity he stepped into the glare of the international spotlight when he ran into a second place at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.

He then notched a very creditable 16th in the marathon at his Olympics debut in London in 2012.

“I was happy with my effort today, I wasn’t sure of the shape I was in because it’s my first race in six months,’’ he said.

“It was a great event this year, as always.”

In the women’s 10km race Sydney’s Lara Tamsett notched her second win on the course when she crossed the line first in 33:05. Tamsett is a previous winner of the Gold Coast ASICS Half Marathon (2011).

She finished ahead of fellow Sydney-sider Milly Clark (34:25) with Bridey Delaney, also from Sydney, third (34:26).

“I felt relieved to have crossed that finish line – it was a tough day in the office,” said Tamsett.

“I leave on Monday for altitude training to prepare for Moscow [World Athletics Championships] in August.

“I kept thinking, God I hope they’re not too close behind me because they (Clark and Delaney) are speed demons.

“It’s a fantastic event and I love the atmosphere, staying in a nice hotel and eating at nice restaurants.”

The 2013 Southern Cross University 10km run attracted a total of 6389 starters.

A total of 1548 youngsters competed in today’s 2km and 4km Junior Dash races.

Reigning Queensland cross country age champion, Brisbane’s Justin Currie, 13, was pushed all the way to the line before winning the boys’ 4km dash in 13min20sec.

He edged out Adelaide’s Samuel Hargreaves (13:21) with Brisbane’s Jacob Bragg third.

“It was a bit harder than I’m used to because I’m used to running three kilometres,” said Justin.

“I’m pretty pumped for the State Championships in Bundaberg after my run today.”

In the girls’ 4km dash Brisbane’s Katrina Robinson, 12, (13:55) sizzled home to a comfortable win over Mackenzey Ormiston (14:31), from Ocean Shores, with Brisbane’s Cara Woolnough (14:33) third.

“I’m very happy to have won, but am very tired,” said Katrina.

“I heard people say that I was the first girl nearing the finish line so that kept me going.”

Casey O’Brien, 10, from Korora, near Coffs Harbour, made it two Gold Coast event wins in consecutive years when he took out the 2km boys’ race in a quick 6min 51sec just outside the 6:43 record.

Charging home second was Brisbane’s Jake Brooks (6:57) and Ethan Links (7:15) from the Gold Coast was third.

“It was a really hard race this year. I was trying to get under seven minutes,’’ Casey said.

“I’m looking forward to the State Cross Country Championships next weekend.”

Gold Coast’s Bianca Jones took the girls’ 2km honours in 7:26. Second was Jazi Coventry (7:43), from Mudgeeraba, and third was Brisbane’s Dakota Farrell-Thomas (7:49).

“It was hard but easy at the same time,” Bianca said.

“It’s the first time I’ve won the event at the Gold Coast.

“I’m looking forward to going home to celebrate with my brother.”

Tomorrow’s (Sunday, 7 July) racing kicks off with the ASICS Half Marathon at 6am, the Wheelchair 15km and Wheelchair Marathon at 7.15am and the highlight of the weekend, the Gold Coast Airport Marathon, at 7.20am.

Results from the Southern Cross University 10km Run today:

Men: Craig Mottram (VIC) 0h29m38s 1, Michael Shelley (QLD) 0h29m45s 2, Jackson Elliot (QLD) 0h29m55s 3, Brandon Hargreaves 0h29m57s 4, Neil Berry (NSW) 0h30m03s 5, Manabu Itayama (JAP) 0h30m32s 6, Jack Curran (QLD) 0h30m35s 7, Daryl Crook (QLD) 0h30m41s 8, Marc See (WA) 0h30m41s 9, Jay Twist (QLD) 0h30m46s 10.

Women: Lara Tamsett (NSW) 0h33m05s 1, Milly Clark (NSW) 0h34m25s 2, Bridey Delaney (NSW) 0h34m26s 3, Kate Elizabeth Pedley (TAS) 0h34m51s 4, Tara Palm (SA) 0h35m11s 5, Gemma Maini (VIC) 0h35m35s 6, Sophie Barker (VIC) 0h36m07s 7, Kate Seibold (VIC) 0h36m15s 8, Lauren Crowe (VIC) 0h36m34s 9, Susan Michelsson (VIC) 0h37m13s 10.

Results from the 2km Junior Dash today:

Boys: Casey O’Brien (NSW) 0h06m51s 1, Jake Brooks (QLD) 0h6m57s 2, Ethan Links (QLD) 0h7m15s 3.

Girls: Bianca Jones (QLD) 0h7m26s 1, Jazi Coventry (QLD) 0h7m43s 2, Dakota Farrell-Thomas (QLD) 0h7m49s 3.

Results from the 4km Junior Dash today:

Boys: Justin Currie (QLD) 0h13m20s 1, Samuel Hargreaves (SA) 0h13m21s 2, Jacob Bragg (QLD) 0h13m24s 3.

Girls: Katrina Robinson (QLD) 0h13m55s 1, Mackenzey Ormiston (NSW) 0h14m31s 2, Cara Woolnough (QLD) 0h14m33s 3.