Sydney Half Marathon Preview

Published Wed 30 Aug 2023

30 August 2023

Sydney Half Marathon Preview

This Sunday over 1000 athletes from 8 to 80 will pound the payment of the iconic Olympic Boulevard at Homebush as they strive for State championship honours, a personal best time, or the satisfaction of achieving a goal of running a half marathon.

The 33rd NSW Half Marathon will this Sunday be held around the streets of Sydney Olympic Park and finish on the blue track at the Sydney Athletics Centre. Momentum is building as entry numbers approach last year’s record 1300 participants across the 21.1km Half Marathon, 10km event and Family Fun Run events.

Athletes can still enter right up until the start of the event on Sunday morning. Details: https://raceroster.com/events/2023/75380/2023-sydney-half

Who are some of the leading athletes?

MEN

Leo Patterson – Australian representative in Mountain running. In 2022 Leo was the NSW Distance Runner of the year. He was fifth last year and is aiming to lower his PB of 67:50.

Lachlan Bryant – This summer the 21-year-old has set PBs from 5000m to Marathon. He recently clocked a notable 2:25 hours in the Gold Coast Marathon. He looks on target to lower his 68:31 Half Marathon PB.

Joe Burgess – The versatile distance runner, who was fifth in the National 3000m steeplechase this year, set his Half Marathon PB of 67:11 in the famous Japanese Marugame race in 2019. He is in close to that form this year.

WOMEN

Bronwyn Hager – the former teenage distance star, has this year been turning back the years running on the track at the National 5000m. She has set PBs in the 3000m and 5000m. She hopes that form will assist her on the roads where she is very focused on breaking her PB of 79:36 minutes.

Niamh Allen – is the favourite for the event, particularly following her recent City to Surf win in 47:29 minutes. The Newcastle-based Irish athlete has been a regular on the podiums this summer at Athletics NSW winter championships.

Helena Eastham – The Sydney-based British athlete looks on target to smash her PB by as much as three minutes. This summer she has shown tremendous speed on the track clocking 17:01 for 5000m.

Others of note competing:

Russell Dessaix-Chin – the 4-time winner of the race may not be in his PB form of 66:39 (from 2008), but he has hit a purple patch of form and recently ran 69:39 minutes on the Gold Coast.

Paul Arthur – the 5-time winner is prolific at the Athletics NSW events and he will again be on the line in 2023.

The full program of events:

6:30am – Sydney Half Marathon
8:40am – 10km
9:15am – Family Fun Run

Race Fact File

Date: Sunday 3 September

Start Time: First race 6:30am

Venue: Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush

Start line: Dawn Fraser Avenue, in front of the NRL building

Finish line: On the track inside the Sydney Athletics Centre

Entry: Taken until start of the race

More information: results, FAQs, course maps, prizemoney etc

To Enter: (athletics NSW member) https://www.nswathletics.org.au/events/191034/