2012 London Olympic marathoner and two-time Commonwealth Games representative for Australia Martin Dent will head to this year’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon as favourite to take home the Southern Cross University 10km Run on Saturday 4 July despite an extremely close elite field.

The 36-year-old from the ACT leads the pack with a fast 10km personal best (28:28, Melbourne 2009) and course experience with five ASICS Half Marathon podium finishes since 2006 including two wins (2013 & 2006), one second (2010) and two thirds (2009 & 2008).

Dent, who retired from international marathon competition after his 19^th place at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, has continued to post quick times over shorter distances including a second place at the 2014 Sydney Harbour 10km (29:15) and victory at the Bay2Bay Half Marathon (1:06:34) in Woy Woy.

Joining Dent on the start line will be five Australian men who have previously placed at a Gold Coast Airport Marathon race including Jackson Elliott, Daryl Crook, Hugh Williams, Harry Summers and Riley Cocks.

Gold Coast local Jackson Elliott will race in his own backyard for the sixth time since 2009 and needs to replicate his 2013 performance (third, 29:55) and run under 30 minutes if he is a chance of winning. The 33-year-old will be confident he can after recently notching a 10km personal best of 29:42  to take fourth place at the Launceston 10km.

Four places behind Elliott at the Launceston 10km was 2012 Southern Cross University 10km Run second placegetter (30:44) Hugh Williams (ACT) who also posted a 10km personal best (30:06) at the Tasmanian event.

Despite not having run a sub-30 minute 10km race, Williams is well-versed with the Gold Coast’s flat and fast course with five top three Southern Cross University 10km Run finishes in his age group including two first places in 2011 (30:58) and 2009 (31:58).

Trailing Williams in the 2012 Southern Cross University 10km Run was Queensland’s Daryl Crook who crossed the line in third place (31:16) and will line up for his fourth consecutive run in the 10km event this Saturday. The 26-year-old recently came second at the 14km Brisbane City2South (45:13) indicating his potential to add another podium finish to his Gold Coast portfolio.

Harry Summers (NSW) is yet to taste victory on the Gold Coast and will be hoping 2015 is the year he holds the $1,000 winner’s cheque in his hands after second place finishes in the 2012 ASICS Half Marathon (1:03:34) and the 2009 Southern Cross University 10km Run (30:00).

Summers, who hold a 28:13 10 kilometre personal best, managed a sub-30 minute fifth place at the 2014 Sydney Harbour 10km, 26 seconds behind this year’s race favourite Dent who crossed the line in a 29:15 second place.

4km Junior Dash course record holder (12:29), 2013 Suncorp Bank 5.7km Challenge second placegetter (17:20) and 2014 Southern Cross University 10km Run third placegetter (30:33) Riley Cocks from South Australia will return to the Gold Coast with a personal best (30:12) recorded earlier this year under his belt.

The 19-year-old is in stellar form adding another three personal bests in three various distances this year including 1500m (03:57), 3000m (08:14) and a 5000m (14:10) and will be determined to continue his streak by posting his first sub-30 minute time at this year’s event.

Joining Riley will be his older brother Jacob who has also tasted success on the Gold Coast including taking out his age group in last year’s ASICS Half Marathon (1:08:32) and the 2010 Southern Cross University 10km Run (31:53).

Up-and-coming Victorian Jack Rayner posted a 29:37 10km personal best in Melbourne last year and has signalled his ability to go faster after clocking 13:48 at the recent IAAF Melbourne World Challenge 5km.

The 19-year-old also joined fellow runners Elliott and Williams at the Launceston 10km running a sixth place 29:54 and will return to the Gold Coast after coming second in his age group at last year’s ASICS Half Marathon (1:09:27).

Bradley Croker from the ACT (29:48), Victorian Andy Buchanan (30:03) and New Zealand’s Malcolm Hicks (29:18) round out the men’s elite field.

Leading the women’s elite field will be 2013 Australian Cross Country champion Bridey Delaney who will be motivated to claim back-to-back titles after winning last year’s Southern Cross University 10km Run in a personal best 33:52.

It will be the third consecutive time the 2014 4x1500m IAAF World Relay bronze medalist (17:08 – Australian Record) from Sydney will race the Southern Cross University 10km Run with the hope of running faster than her recent fifth place 35:26 at the Launceston 10km.

2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games marathoner (10^th, 2:35:21) Sarah Klein will use the event as a quick hit out before travelling to Beijing in August to represent Australia in the marathon at the 2015 IAAF World Championships.

The 30-year-old is no stranger to the Gold Coast Airport Marathon having competed in two ASICS Half Marathons and two Southern Cross University 10km Runs including a win at the 2008 race in 35:43.

Victorian Gemma Maini, who posted 35:35 at the 2013 Southern Cross University 10km Run, has since gone on to improve her personal best to 33:50 (Melbourne, 2015) and rounds out the women’s elite field.

The Southern Cross University 10km Run will incorporate the 2015 Queensland 10km Road Running Championships. These championships will be open to all Queensland residents and registered Queensland Athletics club members from Northern NSW. The first three male and female Queensland athletes to finish the Southern Cross University 10km Run will be presented with Queensland Championship medals.

Men

Harry Summers (NSW) 28:13
Martin Dent (ACT) 28:28
Malcolm Hicks (NZL) 29:19
Jack Rayner (VIC) 29:37
Jackson Elliott (QLD) 29:42
Bradley Croker (ACT) 29:48
Andy Buchanan (VIC) 30:02
Hugh Williams (ACT) 30:06
Riley Cocks (SA) 30:12
Daryl Crook (QLD) 30:40
Vlad Shatrov (NSW) 30:50
Jacob Cocks (SA)

Women

Bridey Delaney (NSW) 33:52
Gemma Maini (VIC) 33:50
Sarah Klein (VIC) 34:21

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon will be held on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July in one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world in Queensland, Australia.

It is set to attract more than 27,000 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.

To enter or for more information visit goldcoastmarathon.com.au