Elite international runners arrive for Gold Coast Airport Marathon this weekend

ELITE athletes from around the world have landed for Sunday’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon, shaping up to be one of the city’s biggest international sporting events.

Gold Coast Airport Marathon Kenyan elite athletes Stephen Kibiwot and Stephen Tum will be aiming to break the Gold Coast Airport Marathon course record this Sunday 6 July. Both athletes have personal best times under the current course record. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

ELITE athletes from around the world have landed for Sunday’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon, shaping up to be one of the city’s biggest international sporting events.

Attracting a field featuring international competitors from as far as Kenya and Morocco, a record 12 male and seven female international elite athletes will compete to break the course record.

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“Were thrilled to have attracted a high-quality field of elite runners who will race on one of the faster and flattest courses in the country,” organiser Cameron Hart said.

US marathon champion Jeffrey Eggleston is the first elite athlete from America to compete in the event.

ON COURSE: Gold Coast Airport Marathon elite athletes Stephen Kibiwot and Stephen Tum, of Kenya, are raring to go for Sunday’s race. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

“It’s a great opportunity, especially with the great field of athletes the Gold Coast has attracted,” he said.

NSW runner Jane Fardell said while she usually prefers overseas runs, she was looking forward to competing against the world’s best on home soil.

The international field includes Kenyan elite athletes Stephen Kibiwot and Stephen Tum, who both have personal bests under the course record - and are aiming for podium finishes.