Australia’s racewalkers are set to compete for a piece of history as the inaugural Australian Athletics Marathon Race Walking Championships arrive in Canberra this weekend, with qualifying times and national titles to fight for as part of the Chemist Warehouse Winter Series.
With the marathon race walk replacing the 35km race walk on the world stage, Olympic medallist Rhydian Cowley (VIC, Brent Vallance) is one of main men welcoming the change as a seasoned veteran, who was known to excel in the now defunct 50km race walk.
Cowley will toe the line as the pre-race favourite alongside Olivia Sandery (SA, Jared Tallent) in the women’s event as the respective 35km national record holders, but challenges can be expected from up-and-coming walkers Will Thompson (VIC, Brent Vallance) and Elizabeth McMillen (SA, Jared Tallent).
“I’ve grown used to the distance changing a few times in recent years, so I’m looking forward to giving the marathon a go as something new and as my season opener for 2026,” Cowley said.
“The aim on the weekend will be to help some friends get a qualifying time (3:18) for the World Racewalking Teams Championship in Brazil in April 2026. Obviously it would be nice to get another national championship after collecting a bunch over 35k.”
In the 35km discipline, Cowley stands on top of the Australian all-time list at 2:25:21, ahead of Thompson (2:29:58) and Mitchell Baker (ACT, Jared Tallent) at 2:31:07 – with the three-time Olympian set to only relish the extra seven kilometres and change.
Sandery’s best performance of 2:42:40 in the 35km race walk earns her favouritism for Saturday’s 42.2km contest, holding the ascendency on paper over Allanah Pitcher (NSW, Frank Overton) and McMillen who are tied at 2:47:26, with McMillen on the rise as the 2025 FISU World University Games champion in the 20km race walk.
Athletes will have the added incentive of qualifying for the 2026 World Athletics Racewalking Teams Championships to be held in Brazil in April, with the qualifying standard set at 3:18:00 for men and 3:40:00 for women, also serving as a selection trial for the event.
The morning of racing at Canberra’s Stromlo Forest Park will also include a non-championship half marathon race walk for men and women, featuring Commonwealth Games medallist Declan Tingay (WA, Brent Vallance) and World Under 20 representative Chelsea Roberts (NSW, Dennis Coker & Frank Overton).
Given the marathon race walk is a new event on the world stage, no national record will be officially recognised until 2027.
The 2025 Australian Athletics Marathon Race Walking Championships will begin at 7:00am AEDT on Saturday (November 29) – held at Stromlo Forest Park.
Entry lists, timetables and live results can be found via the links below:
2025 Australian Athletics Marathon Race Walking Championships
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Australian Athletics
Posted 26/11/2025
