Record Breaking 12,000 participants for Sunshine Coast Marathon

The 2024 EVA Air Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival, held on Sunday, August 11, saw record-breaking participation with 12,000 runners taking to the scenic coastal course. Despite initial forecasts predicting rain, the day turned out to be perfect for running, with clear skies and ideal temperatures that contributed to an unforgettable event.

This year’s festival was a resounding success, raising over $200,000 for a range of charities and community groups, including Ronald McDonald House Charities, Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, and Wishlist Sunshine Coast. The event continues to grow in stature, attracting thousands of visitors to the region, which provided a significant economic boost to the Sunshine Coast.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the Sunshine Coast Marathon had grown into one of our largest mass-participation sporting events.

“We are so pleased to sponsor an event that has such a fantastic global reputation and also supports our local community through its fundraising efforts,” Mayor Natoli said. “Congratulations must go to Atlas Events and the many local businesses and volunteers who supported this event.”

“The Sunshine Coast Marathon delivers a strong economic return for our region. “The estimated economic benefit this year is worth more than $7 million, with half of the participants coming from outside our region.

“Whatever the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic course looks like, our beautiful home will be broadcast around the globe, encouraging others to experience the Sunshine Coast for themselves.

“These opportunities strengthen our economy, now and in the future.”

The marathon saw standout performances, with Rob Collins (pcitured above) clinching the men's title in a time of 2:27:51. Tasmanian Milly Clark set a new course record in the women’s marathon, finishing in a blistering time of 2:37:07, averaging 3:43min/km.

Reflecting on her victory, Clark said “I got my rhythm and found my legs and let the race atmosphere take over. It was really good seeing the number of runners out there, it’s incredible how big running is getting. I just love coming up here, I love running here in the warm. I’d like to thank EVA Air, all the volunteers, especially those at the drink stations, they did an awesome job and everyone who cheered; the crowd was just awesome.”

In the half marathon, which also had the added prestige of hosting the Queensland and Australian Half Marathon Championships, Liam Boudin crossed the line first in 1:03:40, while Olympian Lisa Weightman showcased her experience by winning the women’s half marathon in an impressive 1:10:23 over 3 minutes ahead of her nearest rival.

As the Sunshine Coast prepares to host the 2032 Olympics and Paralympic Marathon, the Alexandra Headland location was buzzing with excitement. The event is pivotal in building momentum towards the games, with the marathon festival continuing to grow each year.

Event Director Jason Crowther reflected on the success of this year’s event and the exciting future ahead. “Transitioning to a one-lap marathon course in the next couple of years will be a crucial step in allowing the event to accommodate more participants while maintaining the unique experience that our runners love. This change will enable us to continue growing as we head towards the 2032 Games, further solidifying the Sunshine Coast as a premier destination for world-class events.”

The EVA Air Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival is supported by the Sunshine Coast Council through the Major Events Sponsorship Program and Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.

Image credits: Sunshine Coast Marathon