Tim Hewitt wins sixth NT City2Surf title in a row
The 2025 NT City2Surf has been run and won with one runner etching himself into the history books. Recap the action in our 100+ photo gallery here.
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A record number of early risers filled the footpaths and streets from the Darwin foreshore to Nightcliff Sunday morning, taking part in the 2025 NT City2Surf fun run.
A two discipline event – 12.5km and 4km – saw a record breaking 3000 runners, making it the Territory largest fun run for yet another year.
Tim Hewitt, victor of the main event (12.5km), made history as he became just the second person to win the race more than five-times in a row, claiming his sixth in dominant fashion.
He still is a far way off the event’s godfather Steve Blake who won 12 times on the trot and 17 times in total.
Second-place finisher (12.5km) Luke said the race, per usual, was an energy-sapping one, but running in a pack at the start helped him conserve his energy for a second half push.
“I’m pretty tired after all that,” he said.
“It’s a pretty hard race out there.
“A few of us stuck together at the start but ended up getting separated as we went further.
“It was a nice cold morning which helps keep the body temperature low and keep the exertion rate up, especially with the ‘Darwin Hill’ toward the start.
“I ended up crossing the finish line in about 41 minutes which was quicker than I thought I would go.”
A confidence boosting result, Luke said the run will be great preparation for the Gold Coast in a month’s time.
“Now I’m off to the Gold Coast at the start of July for the half marathon.
“So this (is a good precursor) for that event and helps me see where I’m at and what I need to work on going forward.”
City2Surf breaks record participation for third year in a row
May 30, 2025: The Darwin City2Surf has broken its record for registrations for the third year in a row with locals and interstate running enthusiasts ready to take on the run on Sunday.
The NT’s biggest running event came out of Covid strong with 2007 participants and grew to 2897 people the year after.
But already registrations have gone beyond the 2900 mark nearing the cap of 2000 for the 12.5km event and overall limit of 3000 runners.
City2Surf race director Leanne Chin said it was exciting to see how many people came along to the event each year.
“The interest we have in this event from not only locals but interstaters as well is absolutely phenomenal,” Ms Chin said.
“And the fact people are choosing to come up to the NT to run at this time of year puts us on the map against other big events across the country.
“Post-Covid, when we couldn’t really do a lot, the recreational running movement absolutely boomed and we’re seeing the impact of that.
“People have realised they kind of like running and it’s something they can do anywhere and be athletes without the high performance side of it.”
To help the runner experience this year the race will finish on the road rather than the usual narrower bike path near the Nightcliff Foreshore cafe.
And while for many the run will be about the fun and beating personal bests, some will be going for overall glory, including Tim Hewitt aiming for title number six.
“He is looking the goods at the moment so we anticipate him to finish around the 40-minute mark,” Ms Chin said.
Again it’s encouraged for runners to pick up their bibs on Saturday to ensure an easy process come the early morning start.
Bibs can be collected from 10am-4pm at the Doubletree by Hilton, and another ease is buses will now only run from the finish line back to the start of the race on the Esplanade.
“We’re trying to minimise what could be 3000 cars at Nightcliff and reduce our impact on residents so it’s suggested to either carpool into town and grab the free bus after,” Ms Chin said.
“We had to set the cap on numbers at some stage because we don’t want to run out of water and we want to be able to look out for the safety of the runners.
“We want to suggest everyone hydrates beforehand and that’s with water instead of beer.”
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