The women’s marathon race record was broken amid the biggest turnout in Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival history.
Noosa-based American Beth McKenzie hit the line in 2hr37min26sec to notch the fastest time since the race’s inception in 2012, breaking Sarah Short’s mark of 2:41.12 set last year, when the course transitioned to a single lap format.
Two-time Olympian Brett Robinson won the men’s race on Sunday.
A record 16,500 people took part across the festival’s six events (marathon, half marathon, 10km, 5km, 5km walk, and 2km).
McKenzie finished more than six minutes ahead of Nikki Curry, to add to her title from 2023.
“My last marathon was three years ago and, since then, I’ve done a lot of trail racing but I keep fast in the road training, with all of my friends,” the 46-year-old said.
“They’re all about half my age so it keeps me fit and young,” she said.
McKenzie said she got a mid-race boost.
“I got very lucky. We bumped into the half marathon (runners) and my friend Ella was right there, so she was able to chat with me for a couple of kilometres and take my mind away from the pain,” she said.
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Robinson crossed the finish line in 2:15.45 to add another chapter to his strong connection with the Sunshine Coast event.
The 35-year-old won the half marathon in 2022 before returning in 2025 to help pace Ryan Gregson to a marathon course record.
“It was tough,” he said of the race on Sunday.
“I just wasn’t feeling great in that back end so couldn’t go quite as quick as I wanted to today.”
But he was still too strong for the rest of the field, including runner-up Taketoshi Oe, who was almost eight minutes adrift.
The half marathon saw two of Australia’s leading distance athletes add their names to the Sunshine Coast honour roll, with two-time Olympians Ryan Gregson and Izzi Batt-Doyle taking out the men’s and women’s titles.
Gregson crossed the line in 1:04.01.
The 36-year-old last year claimed victory in the marathon, setting a new course record in the process.
Batt-Doyle made a winning debut on the Sunshine Coast, taking out the women’s half marathon win in 1:08:49, as part of her preparations for the Chicago Marathon.
“The crowd definitely carried me along and the course was really scenic,” she said.
“It felt like it went by fairly quickly so while it was a bit tough with the wind it was just a beautiful course and a great atmosphere.”
The festival delivered a record celebration of running, with 16,500 participants taking part across the EVA Air Marathon, McDonald’s Half Marathon, Westpac 10km, Cricks 5km Run, Maroochy RSL 5km Walk and 2km events.
Participants from 42 countries joined thousands of local runners, walkers, volunteers and supporters, with ages ranging from four to 84.
Finishers received medals, after a concerted effort to get the silverware from Port of Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast in time.
The Sunshine Coast is earmarked to host the Olympic marathon in 2032.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the festival demonstrated the strength and spirit of the community, with volunteers, organisers, businesses and residents coming together.
“Events like this create lasting benefits for our region, generating valuable economic activity while promoting health, wellbeing and community connection,” she said.
“It was fantastic to see our streets and coastline come alive with participants and supporters from across the country, creating an atmosphere that was both inspiring and welcoming.
The EVA Air Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival is supported by Tourism and Events Queensland and the Sunshine Coast Council.
