Seeded & Priority Starts
In our continuous effort to provide exceptional support for all competitors we are pleased to offer seeded and priority starting positions in the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon, Half Marathon, Southern Cross University 10km Run and Gold Coast Airport 5km. This policy has been established to increase the level of service offered to elite athletes and other runners who have shown the potential to compete at a high standard.
A summary of the standards required for either a seeded or a priority start position are outlined in the table below. These times must have been achieved on a certified course after 1 January 2023 (please note all 5km times must have been achieved after 1 January 2024).
Applications will be accepted via your 2025 race entry.
| Seeded (Elite) | Priority (Sub-elite) | |||
| Race | Men | Women | Men | Women |
| Marathon | 2:25:00 | 2:55:00 | 2:38:00 | 3:08:00 |
| Half Marathon | 1:08:00 | 1:20:00 | 1:16:00 | 1:28:00 |
| 10km Run | 32:00 | 38:00 | 37:00 | 43:00 |
| 5km Fun Run | 17:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 21:00 |
Seeded Start (Elite)
Criteria for a guaranteed seeded start position:
- The top 20 male & female finishers in the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon, Half Marathon, Southern Cross University 10km Run and Gold Coast Airport 5km at the 2024 Gold Coast Marathon presented by ASICS.
- All Oceania area athletes who receive assistance via the elite athlete assistance program
- Approved international athletes
- Athletes who have achieved the following times on a certified course in the race distance they are applying for the seeded start after 1 January 2023:
| Race | Male | Female |
| Marathon | Sub 2:25:00 | Sub 2:55:00 |
| Half Marathon | Sub 1:08:00 | Sub 1:20:00 |
| 10km Run | Sub 32:00 | Sub 38:00 |
N.B. 10km times will be considered (by not guaranteed) for the half marathon (especially for those running their half marathon debut) and half marathon times will be considered (but not guaranteed) for the marathon (especially for those running their debut marathon). Submitting a seeded 10km time does not guarantee a place in the seeded start group in the marathon.
- 5km Fun Run athletes who have achieved the following times on a certified course after 1 January 2024:
| Race | Male | Female |
| 5km Fun Run | Sub 17:00 | Sub 19:00 |
- For Australian races, only times on Athletics Australia certified accurate courses will be accepted.
- For overseas races, the course must have been measured in accordance with World Athletics (WA) & Association of International Marathon Standards (AIMS) standards.
- All applications are completed via the race registration system.
Seeded Start applications close Saturday 31 May 2025 (or once the allocation for each race has been filled).
Identifier
- Seeded runners will be issued with a low race number within the race number range for your race (i.e. marathon race numbers start at 1; half marathon race numbers start at 20,0001; 10km race numbers start at 40,001; and 5km race numbers start at 50,001).
- Seeded runners are permitted to warm up in a designated area on the road close to the start line prior to the start of the race and then assemble at the start line at the very front of the field.
- Seeded runners are also offered the opportunity to use the elite athlete area pre- and post-race.
Priority Start (Sub-elite)
Criteria for a guaranteed priority start position:
- Athletes who have achieved the following times on a certified course in the race distance they are applying for the priority start after 1 January 2023:
| Race | Male | Female |
| Marathon | Sub 2:38:00 | Sub 3:08:00 |
| Half Marathon | Sub 1:16:00 | Sub 1:28:00 |
| 10km Run | Sub 37:00 | Sub 43:00 |
N.B. 10km times will be considered (but not guaranteed) for the half marathon (especially for those running their half marathon debut) and half marathon times will be considered (but not guaranteed) for the marathon (especially for those running their debut marathon). Submitting a priority 10km time does not guarantee a place in the priority start group in the marathon.
- 5km Fun Run athletes who have achieved the following times on a certified course after 1 January 2024:
| Race | Male | Female |
| 5km Fun Run | Sub 19:00 | Sub 21:00 |
- For Australian races, only times on Athletics Australia certified accurate courses will be accepted.
- For overseas races, the course must have been measured in accordance with World Athletics (WA) & Association of International Marathon Standards (AIMS) standards.
- All applications are completed via the race registration system.
Priority Start applications close Saturday 31 May 2025 (or once the allocation for each race has been filled).
Identifier
- Priority runners will be issued with a regular race number.
- A priority start identification sticker will be placed on this race number to allow priority runners to complete their warm-up in a designated area on the road close to the start line prior to the start of the race.
- Priority runners then line up on the start immediately behind the seeded runners.
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