Athletics Australia wishes to advise that the 2021 Australian Marathon Championships scheduled to take place this Sunday, 4 July in conjunction with the Gold Coast Marathon, will now be postponed.
The news follows the cancellation of the Gold Coast Marathon due to the three-day lockdown enforced by the Queensland Government to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.
Athletics Australia CEO Peter Bromley said he was supportive of the decision to cancel the Gold Coast Marathon, with the health and wellbeing of the general public being of the utmost importance.
“We understand that there will be significant disappointment for elite distance runners who put in very specific preparation to be in peak condition for the Australian Marathon Championships, however, we all know that Covid-19 presents us with a constantly evolving situation which effects the health and safety of the wider community,” Bromley said.
“In saying this, the Australian Marathon Championships is a key event on the Australian athletics calendar and as such, we are working to create a new opportunity for our distance athletes so they can still have the opportunity to compete for a title in a safe and secure environment.”
Australia’s Olympic and Paralympic marathon athletes who had intended to use the Gold Coast Marathon as part of their preparation will now continue to train through to Tokyo.
Athletics Australia would like to acknowledge the work of the Gold Coast Marathon and express our sympathies to the organisers for the hard work put in to deliver the event. We look forward to returning to the Gold Coast next year for the 2022 Australian Marathon Championships.
By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 29/6/2021
