Marathon man out to crack rare treble

KENYAN Kenneth Mungara will return to try for a rare third straight title at the Gold Coast Marathon next month.

The 43-year-old won the men’s 42km race in 2015 and again last year by just one second in a tight finish with Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi.

Kawauchi, the 2013 winner in 2hr:10min:1 sec, will resume the battle come July 2 with Mungara, who won last year in 2:09 flat.

The pair headline a top men’s field which includes Kenya’s Willy Kibor, who has run under 2:10 plus a group top Ethiopian runners.

If Mungara wins for the third consecutive year he will join Margaret Reddan as the only other runner to have done so. Reddan, a Gold Coaster, won the 1984, 1985 and 1986 events.

Events Management Queensland CEO Cameron Hart, who oversees running of the event, said Mungara’s return to attempt the “threepeat” would be a major drawcard for the crowd.

“It is very hard to win three titles so it is going to be something everyone is going to be watching, it will be a major talking point of the marathon,” Hart said.

“The elite start list for this year’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon contains six previous winners and dozens more striving to add their name to the honour roll.”

The women’s field will be chasing the female course record of 2:26.40 set last year by Japan’s Misato Horie.

The event, which also includes wheelchair marathons, half marathons and 10km events, is expected to attract about 27,000 entrants including more than 3000 from overseas.

– RYAN KEEN