Press Release - Gold Coast Marathon - 6/10/21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

        Elite Tasmanian marathoner sets sights on top of the podium 
        at the 2021 Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon

Tasmanian Olympian, Milly Clark hopes to switch up her second place from 
her first Gold Coast Marathon in 2019, for first in this year's feature 
42.195km event in just under four weeks' time.

The first Australian home in the 2016 Rio Olympics women's marathon, 
Clark's result and PB on the Gold Coast in 2019 moved her into ninth 
position of Australia's all-time female marathoners and the fastest ranked 
female in the Gold Coast event.

Clark said she was really looking forward to the Gold Coast after a 
disrupted year in 2020.

"I love the Gold Coast, the fast and flat course and the atmosphere – I'm 
keen on making it to the top of the podium this year and then we'll see 
what 2022 has in store," she said. 

"A win on the Gold Coast means an Australian Championship title as a 
bonus," Clark added.

The 3-4 July marathon weekend will host the 2021 Australian Marathon 
Championships. 

It will offer up a unique six opportunities for female and male marathoners 
to run qualifying times for the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2022 World 
Athletics Championships. 

With the two international events scheduled less than a week apart, the 
chance to wear the green and gold is greater than previous years and sets 
the Gold Coast up for a fierce and fast competition at the elite level. 

Eighteen women in the Gold Coast's classy field of female marathoners have 
previously run a sub 2:50 with another four debutants snapping at their 
heels as serious contenders to climb the ranks of the elite female marathon 
ladder. 

Amongst the possible podium finishers on the Gold Coast in 2021 is 
Victorian, Sarah Klein who won the Gold Coast 2008 Southern Cross 
University 10km Run and went on to represent Australia in the marathon at 
the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the 2015 Beijing World 
Championships. 

Another real chance for a top three finish is Nera Jerab from Western 
Australia who finished tenth at the 2019 Gold Coast Marathon (second 
Australian behind Milly Clark) before following that result up with a 
second place at the 2019 Melbourne Marathon.  

She'll continue a friendly on course rivalry with Dick Telford-coached 
Marnie Ponton from NSW who finished a close third behind Nera in Melbourne 
and won the 2021 Brisbane Half Marathon last weekend in a strong show of 
fitness.

And hailing from Victoria, marathon debutant, seasoned athlete and 
Olympian, Madeline Heiner will put her years of experience in the 3,000m 
Steeplechase and on the track in the 5,000m and 10,000m to the test when 
she lines up for the marathon on Sunday 4 July. 

Trained by Australian marathon legend, Benita Willis, New Zealander Kelly 
Parlane will join her compatriot, Alice Mason on the start line with 
Scottish national marathon program member, Eilidh Bell representing a 
COVID-enforced, drastically reduced international field of contenders.

The stellar field of elite female athletes will be joined by more than 
5,000 participants from all over Australia who collectively make it the 
biggest domestic marathon field on the Gold Coast in the event's 42-year 
history.

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