The Valencia Marathon proven to be a fast-paced event, with standout performances from Oceania athletes.
Andy Buchanan of Australia has broken the Area and National Record, finishing in a 2:06:22. Lowering the previous mark of fellow Australian Brett Robinson of 2:07:31 set in Fukuoka. Andy is now the first Oceania man to have run under the 2:07:00 barrier for the Marathon and has run a qualifying performance for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo 2025.
French Polynesian athlete Damien Troquenet also made history, clocking 2:24:50 to set a new national record. The previous record of 2:25.28 by Jean Louis Bounhoure stood since 1983. His achievement represents a major milestone for athletics in the Pacific and showcases the growing depth of talent in the region.
New Zealand’s Matt Baxter delivered an impressive 2:10:57 to move to fifth on the Oceania performance list for 2024. He sits just behind fellow countryman Cameron Avery, further highlighting New Zealand’s prominence in distance running this year.
In the women’s race, Australia’s Isobel Batt-Doyle delivered a stunning performance, finishing in 2:22:59. She moves up to #3 All Time on the Oceania Women’s Marathon Rankings and the Australian Rankings. Her personal best performance in Valencia time her under the World Championships qualifying standard for 2025.
The Valencia Marathon, renowned for its fast course, continues to attract top talent from across the world. The results from this year’s race underline its reputation as a stage for record-breaking performances and personal bests.
In Brisbane, the UQ Classic celebration mile & Gary Brown Shield saw the races in the tough conditions, and Stephen Rahuasi of Solomon Islands has set the Mile National Record* in a performance of 4:39.57 Taking out the 3rd Division race.
Pais Wisil continues his sprinting form leading into this weekend’s Papua New Guinea National Championships, lowering his personal best to 10.5. His new personal best and performance of 10.55 at his last race in Brisbane place Pais as the 3rd fastest PNG Athlete of all time.
*All records subject to ratification
—ENDS—