Canberra Marathon to incorporate Australian Masters and 50km Road Championships

The 31^st annual Canberra Marathon, Australia’s oldest city marathon, will host the Australian Masters Athletics Marathon Championships and the Australian 50km Road Championships on Sunday 15 April.

Australian Masters Athletics recently awarded the Australian Masters Athletics Marathon Championships to Canberra for the next three years, building on the rich masters’ tradition in Canberra. These championships are held in five year age groups from 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, etc. with the oldest category to date being the M80 category for men aged 80-84.

The timing of these championships provides an appropriate celebration marking 20 years since Canberra’s Garry Hand set the existing Australian masters’ record. In 1987 Hand, at age 41, was the outright winner of the Canberra Marathon and his time of 2.19.00 remains the Australian masters’ record.

Athletics Australia, in conjunction with the Australian Ultra Runners Association, has also awarded the Australian 50km Road Championships to Canberra.

A 50km ultra marathon has been held in conjunction with the Canberra Marathon each year since 1993 and last year the race hosted the inaugural Australian Championships. This race is also recognised by the International Ultrarunners Association as a qualifying race for the World 50km Trophy Race.

Last year the top Canberra place getters performed exceptionally well on the world stage with Siri Terjesen (Qld), Suzanne Kelly (NSW) and Jonathan Blake (NSW) all finishing in the top six in the world final.

Further enhancing the status of the Canberra 50km, Victorian Tina Torpy set a new W60 world record for women age 60-64 at last year’s race.

The Canberra Marathon is one of Australia’s leading destination events with over 85 per cent of runners coming from outside the ACT. Visiting runners are expected to boost the marathon field to over 1000 this year.

Support events include the Asics Marathon Eve 5km and 10km Fun Runs, the Canberra 50km Ultra Marathon and the Kids Marathon.

Full details of the marathon are at www.canberramarathon.com.au. The marathon is a member of AIMS (the Association of International Marathons) and is sanctioned by Athletics Australia and the International Ultrarunners Association. It is supported by Asics and the Australian Capital Tourism Corporation.

Dave Cundy

RACE DIRECTOR