Sydney Half Marathon Preview

22 August 2024

Sydney Half Marathon Preview

The 2024 Sydney Half Marathon is shaping up to be the best yet. Perfect weather over iconic Olympic Boulevard at Sydney Olympic Park will greet a record number of entries across the three races, the Half Marathon, 10km and Family Fun Run. The interest has been so great the 10km event is already sold out.

In addition to the record numbers the race has attracted a quality field. The men’s race is headed by 2:11 marathoner Tom Do Canto, while the women’s race looks a close battle amongst a group of athletes, which interestingly are mostly training partners from the Run Crew club.

Ahead of the race, we chatted with Tom do Canto and one of the podium potential ladies, Canada’s Danette Sheehan, who while studying in American won the prestigious NCAA (US college) 10,000m track title in 2009.

MEN’S HALF MARATHON
Run Crew’s Tom Do Canto, 38, starts as the standout competitor in the men’s race. Nine months ago, in pursuit of Paris Olympic selection, he clocked 2:11.51 in the Valencia marathon. To put the performance in context, he jumped to 25th on the Australian all-time list; it was also a minute outside the NSW record and ranked him 5th all-time behind four Olympians. The result followed two very quick half marathon times in recent years for Tom - 62:13 (in 2020) and 62:38 (2021). 

However, Tom does not expect to approach his half marathon PB, which would break Ed Goddard’s race record of 63:26, but instead is more in 26-mile shape.
“I’m getting back to that (2:11) sort of marathon form, but I think that half PB will have to wait a little longer,” Tom said this week.

“Fitness is building nicely and I’m looking forward to a solid hit out at the half as a lead up to Sydney marathon.”

In his teen years and into his 20s, Tom was a talented athlete from Sydney’s Hills district, but his last seven years have been the best of his career. He represented Australia at the 2018 World Half Marathon Championships and clearly has the potential to again wear the green and gold. He has clocked four sub-2:15 marathons, and has outstanding PBs of 2:11:51 (marathon), 62:13 (half marathon) and 28:35 (10,000m track). He explained why he considers his 30s have been the best years of his career.
“I’ve been the most consistent in training in recent years, so that’s the main thing. Also Gary Howard (his coach) for helping me find a training stimulus that works for me.”

Away from the road, Tom is the Principal podiatrist at Pinnacle Sports Podiatry and consults to the NSW Swifts Netball and Sydney Swans AFL/AFLW and teams. He recognised his how important his network in his athletic career.
“My wife can be thanked for organising my weekly training schedule around our busy lives.”

Also expected to be vying for the podium are 3-time winner of the race Matt Cox, 2019 champion Matthew Ho, 67 minute half marathon from the Gold Coast Kurt Fryer, Myles Gough and Lachlan Bryant. 

WOMEN’S HALF MARATHON
The women’s race is set to be a very close battle between a number of athletes. Here are six who have strong podium credentials going into the race. 

Inner West athlete and fourth last year, Bronwyn Hager has set her PBs in the last year over the half marathon (78:41) and marathon (2:45.12) and a repeat of that form should see her close to the podium. Great Britian athlete Alice Daniel, 26, ran a quick 10km PB 34:49 for fifth place in the Sydney 10 over the same course. 

Runner-up in this race in 2018, Gemma Jenkins has been in good form recently too with a 5th place in the NSW Short Course Cross Country Championships. 2:42 marathoner at the Gold Coast, Jemma Griffith was an impressive 9th just 10 days ago in the City to Surf with a great time of 50:46. Gemma and Jemma, members of Run Crew, are preparing for the Sydney Marathon.

Former 16:19 (5000m) and 32:24 (10,000m) track specialist, Rebecca Lowe has this year set three road PBs 34:05 (10km), 1:16.07 (Half marathon) and 2:44.42 (marathon). The third-place getter on this same course at the 2024 Sydney 10, is building towards the Melbourne Marathon.

Finally, and maybe the favourite is relatively unknown Danette Sheehan. The Run Crew athlete, based in the Sutherland Shire, was runner-up in the two NSW Cross Country Championships in 2024. She broke through with a 5th place in the City to Surf, where she clocked a brilliant time of 48:48.

The Canadian citizen has lived in Australia for six years, but just over a year ago returned to running. The former Canadian junior 5000m recordholder, competed at three world cross country championships running in the under-20 race. At college in the USA she won the NCAA 10,000m title in 2009. 16-years-ago, in 2008 she even raced Rebecca Lowe who was competing for Florida. They raced over 5000m with Rebecca placing second (16:14) and Danette fifth (16:23).  But after 2009 Danette didn’t run a step for 14 years. Here is her story.

“We moved to Australia in 2019, about six months before COVID struck,” Danette explained. “We moved here when my second child just turned one following a job opportunity for my husband. His work brought us over and helped us set up a life here in Australia.

In 2022 they moved to Perth and welcomed their third child. It was a challenging time for Danette and a friend recommended jogging for stress management.
“I got back into running just four months after we welcomed our third child to the family. I always felt like I wanted to have a second chance at training and competing after an abrupt stop in 2009, but after 14 years off with no jogging, I wasn’t sure it was possible. Luckily, I had a pair of shoes that still had some life in them and went out and ran 10k in about 40 mins and felt really good…that was the catalyst for getting back in shape. After that I just really wanted to run.  I started running a couple times a week and then progressed to every second day a couple months later. For the next year and a bit, I worked up to running five days a week with a very gentle program.”

In May 2024 she placed 9th in the Sydney 10 with a promising time of 36:01.
“It wasn’t until after the Sydney 10 that I realized I needed to assess my approach to training and made the decision to join Gary Howard’s team at Run Crew.”

In June and July she placed second in the two NSW Cross Country Championships, then this month came her City to Surf breakthrough. 
“I didn't expect this quick of an upswing but Gary is an extremely astute coach with a lot of experience, so we have been able to build fitness quickly.”

Has she been surprised how well she has progressed?
“To be honest, yes! With 14 years off and three kids during that break, I would never have expected to be able to get back to the sport so quickly and be competitive. It has been super motivating and exciting seeing the improvement in times from races I ran just a year ago. It’s also been very fun getting closer to and touching on pace I would have run in training back during my college days.”  

Also key to her recent return has been the environment.
“I would have to say the absolute highlight is getting to show up to Centennial Park for a session and train with such a great group of people who just love to run.  Gary has created such an amazing culture within the group at Run Crew, regardless of what level of runner you are there is always someone to run with.  I have trained a lot on my own throughout my life and I will say that the energy you can get from training with people just doesn't compare. I think that as fitness builds I will move up to the longer distances and eventually try my hand at the marathon.  I have always wanted to test out that distance so that is my long-term goal.”

What are you aiming for at the Sydney Half Marathon - your debut at the distance?
“My goals for the Sydney Half will be to get comfortable with racing a longer distance than I have before. Ideally Gary would like me to find a rhythm and enjoy my debut half marathon experience.  I expect we will have a big bunch of Run Crew guys and girls working together so that will make the experience all the better.”

Race Fact File – Sydney Half Marathon
Date: Sunday 25 August
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 blue track inside the Sydney Athletics Centre
Entry: Taken until start of the race, limited spots available (sold out already are: 10km and Half Marathon 100 to 120 minutes)
More information: results, entries, FAQs, course maps, prizemoney etc https://raceroster.com/events/2024/89483/2024-sydney-half

Race records:
Ed Goddard in 2022 (63.26) and Kerryn McCann in 2002 (71:06).
2023 Champions:
Sydney Half Marathon: MALE Ben St Lawrence, Runcrew 1:05:55, FEMALE Niamh Allen, RCR 1:12:44
10km: MALE Timothy Barnett 32:45, FEMALE Bronte Oates 35:27
Family Fun Run: MALE Bryce Chapman 10:02, FEMALE Natalia Hall 10:08

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Tom do Canto (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)