Gold Coast Marathon: 2011 Women's Preview

Two women who have shared the past three Senshu International City Marathon (Japan) victories will once again square off against each other over the 42.195km distance on Sunday, with the late addition of a highly-credentialed runner from Ethiopia.

40-year-old Chihiro Tanaka from Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture won in 2010 and February’s 2011 race while Caloundra’s Roxie Fraser, 27, took the honours in the Gold Coast’s sister marathon in 2009.

Although their respective personal bests of 2:35:15 and 2:42:22 would appear to set them apart from the rest of the field, past performances will mean little on Sunday.

A late confirmation in the race is Goitetom Tesema from Ethiopia who ran a super-quick 2:26:21 for second place in the Rome Marathon in March.

Based on her form, Tesema will now come into the race as an overwhelming favourite to win the $10,000 prize money and the bonus $25,000 if the winner records a time under 2:30:00.

If she can perform anywhere near this level, she will be an excellent chance of also breaking the women’s course record of 2:29:29 set by Japanese runner Erico Asai in 1993.

Tesema hails from the high altitude East African inland city of Addis Ababa – Ethiopia’s capital, several thousand kilometres from the Indian Ocean.

Lake Macquarie’s Kirsten Molloy, 32, ran a 2:49:00 PB in this race in 2009 but her versatility as a World Long Course Triathlon Champion (2006) and Australian representative duathlete may serve her well.

Fellow national long course triathlon representative Michelle McAdam, 30, is on record as saying she’s out to better her marathon PB of 2:51:20.

Seasoned campaigners Vanessa Parry-Williams (NSW), 39, and New Zealand’s Melissa Norris, 41, both have injury-based motivations to do well.

Parry-Williams, seventh here in 2009, says she is hoping to complete the event uninjured while Norris, who is battling a calf injury, wants to test whether cross-training can maintain marathon fitness.

2005 Gold Coast Airport Marathon winner and champion triathlete Jackie Fairweather, 43, will be looking for a solid hit out in the race as she prepares for the World 100 kilometre event in September.

Other leading Australians include Queensland’s Clare Williams and half marathon specialist Victorians Meredith Cook and Bridget Wetherall.