The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival will return on Sunday 20 September 2009.
25,300 runners take part in Australia’s biggest running festival, raising over 1 million for charities.
click here for provisional results
Kenya’s Julius Maritim has won the 2008 Blackmores Marathon for the fourth year in a row with a time of 02:19:01. On a hot Sydney morning, Maratim led from the beginning and finished five minutes ahead of his countryman Benson Mbithi (2:24:10), while Sydney runner Jeremey Horne finished third with a time of 2:33:17.
“I like the Sydney Marathon and I’m glad to make it four in a row – maybe I will make if five next year,” said a beaming Maratim.
“Today it was perfect weather, especially compared to last year which was cold in the morning.”
Maratim and Mbithi had planned to pace each other for the race, but at the two hour mark, Maratim was running at a faster and more consistent pace and decided to extend his lead.
“At the 35-40km mark, it was a bit challenging and I was feeling a bit tired,” said Maratim.
“You need to be smart to attack the last five kilometres of the course”.
The first woman in the Blackmores Sydney Marathon was Queensland’s Lisa Flint (2:47:43), followed by Caringbah’s Magda Karimali-Poulos (2:48:54) and Canberra’s World Champion Triathlete Jackie Fairweather (2:53:43).
Australian Paralympian Richard Nicholson, who only arrived home from Beijing yesterday, won the wheelchair Marathon (01:56:52), with Paul Nunnari second (2:15:00) and Ian Rhode in third place (2:26:00).
A total of 25,300 entrants have taken part in today’s Blackmores Sydney Running Festival, setting a new participation record for the biggest running festival in Australia. They included cricket legend Glenn McGrath with children James and Holly and mother Beverley, who were walking to help raise funds for the McGrath Foundation.
The field also included more than 960 international runners from 41 countries and hundreds of people from around Australia.
There are four events in the Festival, giving people of all fitness levels a chance to be part of the largest running festival in Australia - the Blackmores Sydney Marathon, Blackmores Half Marathon, The Sunday Telegraph body+soul 9km Bridge Run and The Sunday Telegraph 4km Family Fun Run.
The Blackmores Half Marathon was won earlier this morning by Canberra’s Gomechu Woyecha in a time of 1:06:18, followed by Josphat Mwangi (1:07:07) and Colin Johnston of Kellyville Ridge (1:09:24). Ethiopian born Woyecha is now living in Australia and has been training with Robert de Castella in Canberra.
The first woman across the line in the Blackmores Half Marathon was Jenny Wickham of Allambie Heights (1:18:03). It is the second year in a row and fourth time she has been the first woman in in the Half Marathon course and her best time yet. Second in the women was Willoughby’s Tara Prowse (1:19:22) and Thailand’s Pacharee Chaitongrsi (1:22:05) was third.
More than 12,000 people took part in the 9km Sunday Telegraph body + soul Bridge Run which was won by Bulli’s Ryan Gregson (00:26:16), followed by Ben St Lawrence of Centennial Park (00:26:26) and Cloverlly’s Harry Summers (00:27:27). The first woman across the line was Lara Tamwsett of Kinsgford (00:29:27), with Hollie Emery of Penrith (00:31:03) in second place and Liz Miller of Randwick (00:31:43) third.
At 11:30am there were approximately 1000 runners still on the event courses around Sydney’s CBD, eastern suburbs and inner west.
Blackmores Sydney Running Festival Event Director Wayne Larden said the event had become increasingly popular due to the beauty of the course and the iconic Sydney landmarks it passed.
“This event which takes in Australia’s two most iconic landmarks is one of the most spectacular courses in the world and when coupled with Sydney’s famous harbour and weather you have a recipe for success,” said Larden.
“Being able to run across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and finish in front of the Sydney Opera House is unique for city running festivals and that is attracting more attention from international runners each year.
“We’ve got more than 300 runners from Japan this year, 200 from New Zealand, 40 from France and 33 form Germany among the 960 international entrants and we’re confident those numbers will increase further next year.”
This year, entrants have committed to raising $1.3 million for charities such as Osteoporosis Australia, Black Dog Institute, the Heart Research Institute, the McGrath Foundation and more.
“That’s almost twice the amount we raised for charities last year and a really pleasing result,” said Larden.
“Being able to enjoy an active day out on Sydney’s harbour foreshore and to fundraise for charities at the same time has really resonated with the public and we’re very proud that the event is helping those in need.”
2007 RESULTS ARE AVAILABLE HERE!
