SYDNEY HALF MARATHON REVIEW: Run Crew double with Tom terrific and Danette winning on debut

25 August 2024

SYDNEY HALF MARATHON REVIEW: Run Crew double with Tom terrific and Danette winning on debut

Run Crew athletes Tom do Canto and Danette Sheehan stormed to victory at the 34th edition of the Sydney Half Marathon held this morning under an overcast sky at Sydney Olympic Park.

They led a record 2005 entries across the three races – Sydney Half Marathon, 10km and family fun run. 

MEN Half Marathon
From the gun Tom do Canto broke away from the field running solo until the second lap where he ran into first lap runners. He ran strongly to the finish to clock a very impressive time of 65:04. Since 2007, 17-years-ago, there has only been one faster winning time – Ed Goddard’s race record time of 63:26 from 2022. Three-time winner and training partner of Tom, Matt Cox (Run Crew) broke away late from a pack, running on to claim second place in 69:02. He held off a late surge from Delta’s Alex Shaw who sprinted home passing a number of athletes to grab third place on the podium in a time of 69:30.   
“I was happy with it and felt pretty good and in control and that is how I was hoping it would go” Tom said.
“I didn’t really tapper for it, so all things considered we are looking good for Sydney (Marathon). I now have a final little prep of three weeks leading into the Sydney Marathon.”

Although he had to battle a bit of athlete traffic on the course, Tom enjoyed the event.
“It was a good event having that amount of people running, although it got a little congested, it was encouraging to see so many out cheering and with good energy on the course.
“Today was the first time I’ve run the Sydney Half. It is a good event to have this time of the year and a good lead in for those running the Sydney Marathon.”

WOMEN Half Marathon
Although it was a rather close race in the women’s event, interestingly the order of the top-4 places, all training partners with Run Crew, had been settled within the first few kilometres as they maintained their positions for the next 18km to the finish. 

Sydney-based Canadian, Danette Sheehan, making her debut at the distance, took the lead early and held off Bec Lowe 76:33 to 76:53. Nineth placegetter at the City to Surf, Jemma Griffin ran home strongly to place third in 77:29, with the fourth member of the squad, Gemma Jenkins placing fourth in 79:51.

Danette didn’t have the best build up falling ill late in the week before the race, due to some children sickness in her household.
“I just had to get out there as we had tapered and prepared for the race,” Danette said.
“It was good to get that first one under my belt and a feel for the distance. It felt a totally different rhythm and pace to the 10km, or the 14km City to Surf which has a hill.”

There were positive signs for second placegetter Bec Lowe who ran a PB at the Gold Coast marathon and is now building towards the Melbourne Marathon.
“It was alright, but I was hoping for a PB,” she said. “I’m just getting back into training after the Gold Coast marathon and an injury.”
Bec saw the positive of many training partners racing.
“As we train together, we know each other’s fitness and we can build off each other which is very nice.”

Danette Sheehan has returned to athletics after quitting the sport in 2009 at the conclusion of her USA college career. She is particularly enjoying the squad dynamic and obviously has been key to her progress which has seen her place fifth in the City to Surf and second at the two NSW Cross Country Championships this year, ahead of today’s win.

“Our group (Run Crew) is so great. After I graduated from university (in the USA in 2009) I travelled over to Europe and it felt so lonely and I recall this was really different to that team feeling in college. It is fun to run for yourself, but it is really fun when you are carrying some responsibility for others like your teammates or coaches. When I lost that it was difficult.”

14-years on and in a different country, the team feel is back for Danette.

“Having found Run Crew and Gary (her coach) and the culture in the team, I feel like I’m back in my college days. I’m older now and probably more mature but that same fun feel of turning up for practise is exactly the same.”

It extends from training into competition.
“With the hairpin turns and doubling back and hearing your teammates cheer for you, nothing can top that and that is the energy that is throughout the team – encouraging and motivating and a lot of comradery.”

NOTE: Should Danette get to the stage of National team representation, it is worth noting as of July 1 she became an Australian citizen and now has dual citizenship with Canada. Also, as she has represented Canada as a junior (19 years ago) at World Athletics events (World Cross Country), she would likely need a clearance to represent another country. 

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Run Crew claimed the top-4 places in the women’s half marathon. (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)

Full results are available at: http://results.skywalkercreative.com.au/results.aspx?CId=20034&RId=235

Leading placegetters

Half Marathon
Men
1    Thomas DO CANTO    01:05:04
2    Matthew COX    01:09:02
3    Alexander SHAW    01:09:30
4    James TUNBRIDGE    01:09:49
5    Thales DA SILVA SOUZA    01:10:14
6    Jack MAXWELL    01:10:56
7    Yusuke SHIBUYA    01:11:06
8    Danny SOGLANICH    01:11:07
9    Matthew HO    01:11:27
10    Zac ROSSER    01:11:46

Women
1    Danette SHEEHAN    01:16:33
2    Rebecca LOWE    01:16:53
3    Jemma GRIFFIN    01:17:29
4    Gemma JENKINS    01:19:51
5    Bronwyn HAGER    01:22:00
6    Sarah FLETCHER    01:24:02
7    Emma O'SULLIVAN    01:24:31
8    Portia OLSEN    01:24:58
9    彩香 フジモト    01:25:31
10    Amy DANIEL    01:26:34

10km 
Male
1    Wade BARR    00:32:50
2    Maximilian BOOMKAMP    00:33:46
3    Jasper VAJDIC    00:33:58
4    Ren-Shyan BALNAVE    00:34:18
5    Kevin PAYNE    00:34:38

Female
1    Annabelle VELLA    00:38:27
2    Samantha DANCKERT    00:40:09
3    Tia FULTON    00:42:11
4    Emily GROVES    00:44:02
5    Charlotte VAN VEENENDAAL    00:45:18

Family Fun Run
Male
1    Liam REVILLE    00:11:26
2    Archer LITTLEBURY    00:12:10
3    Glenn LITTLEBURY    00:12:11

Female
1    Matilda-Holly MARKS    00:11:19
2    Noe SPINKS    00:13:32
3    Zara FENG    00:13:46