Press Release - Gold Coast Airport Marathon - 5/20/08

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                OLYMPIAN TROOP CONFIRMED FOR GOLD COAST

The 2008 Gold Coast Airport Marathon has confirmed Australian Olympian Lee 
Troop in its field, a day after he was selected for Australia to contest 
the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Troop will compete in the Asics Half Marathon over 21.1km on Sunday 6 July. 
This will be the two-time Olympian's major race preparation in the lead up 
to the Olympic men's marathon which is scheduled for Sunday 24 August, the 
final day of sporting competition.

Troop was among the most recent additions to the Australian Olympic Team 
and will be the only men's marathon runner in the team. Australia's female 
marathon runners include Australian record holder Benita Johnson, Kate 
Smyth and Lisa-Jane Weightman.

Weightman was the winner of last year's Asics Half Marathon on the Gold 
Coast against a crack field in 1:12:02. She competed in her very first 
marathon in London only a month ago, clocking 2:32:22 – the second fastest 
marathon on debut by an Australian woman.

The 35-year-old Troop posted an Olympic ‘A' qualifier at the Berlin 
Marathon last year, finishing sixth in 2:10:31 – less than a minute off his 
personal best. 

With 14 marathons under his belt, Troop has a personal best of 2:09:49 and 
is one of only five Australians to have ever run under the magical 2:10 
mark for the full 42.2km marathon.

His best half marathon time is 1:01:00 which has him ranked third on the 
Australian all-time list.

Troop's sights are now set on the Gold Coast, a happy hunting ground for 
the Geelong distance runner.

He won the Asics Half Marathon in 2004 and then took out the full Gold 
Coast Airport Marathon in 2006. Troop finished sixth in the Asics Half 
Marathon last year after an illness-interrupted preparation.

"It's been a hard road over the past few years, but I've always known what 
I've had to do to make my third Olympics," said Troop.

"I'm feeling in great shape – back to the athlete I was in the late 
nineties. This time around I'm a lot more wiser and will be striving to do 
all the simple things right in the lead up to Beijing.

"The Gold Coast is an important part of this and I'm aiming to do a fast 
time in the half marathon, somewhere between 61 and 62 minutes."

Gold Coast Airport Marathon General Manager Cameron Hart said it was a coup 
to confirm someone of Troop's status for the event.

"On behalf of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon, I wish to congratulate Lee 
Troop on being selected for his third Australian Olympic Team," said Hart.

"Troopy has been a great supporter of our event for a number of years and 
we look forward to him returning this year for the Asics Half Marathon.

"It will be great marathon preparation for him in the lead up to Beijing 
and I'm sure he will be vying for victory come Sunday 6th of July.

"With Troopy's selection along with Benita Johnson, Kate Smyth and 
Lisa-Jane Weightman, the future of Australian marathon running is looking 
bright. 

"Lisa-Jane is a great example of a young runner who has the talent and 
desire to go a long way. She showcased her considerable talent on the Gold 
Coast last year by winning the Asics Half Marathon, and then went on to 
produce a great debut marathon in London."

The 2008 Gold Coast Airport Marathon on Sunday 6 July will feature an event 
for everyone - Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K Run, 7.5K Walk and Junior Dash.

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon is organised by Queensland Events Gold 
Coast which is a major event management company wholly owned by the 
Queensland Government through Queensland Events Corporation.

People can enter the Gold Coast Airport Marathon from today at 
www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au 

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