Fearnley & Dawes win GC Marathon in Record Times

NSW Institute of Sport athletics stars Kurt Fearnley and Christie Dawes produced sensational wins in the wheelchair marathon races at the Gold Coast Airport Marathon, and in doing do, fine-tuned their Rio 2016 Paralympic Games preparations.

Fearnley broke the long-standing race record from 2000 with his commanding victory in his maiden 42.195km Gold Coast Airport Marathon.

His stunning 12 minute victory over fellow Rio-bound racer Banora Point’s Bill Chaffey (1:42:37) sent a powerful message across the seas that he’ll be a force to be reckoned with at his farewell Paralympics. It also bettered the previous race record held by John McLean of 1:33:21.

Fearnley said he enjoyed his Gold Coast debut.

“There were plenty of people out there running.

“A few of my cousins were on the course; it’s nice to be at a marathon where people know your name,” a relaxed Fearnley said.

“This is the last start for me before the Rio Games.

“It’s a pretty handy time, but unfortunately a hard week of training starts on Tuesday.”

Fearnley said he raced within himself.

“I was [racing] without red lining.

“It’s a hard week of training coming up so I wanted to conserve, but when I got up to the 21 kilometre mark I knew that it could be one of those courses that you could go really quick on.

“Running back into a full field of marathoners and through thousands of people just screaming along the course for us, I really got to enjoy the last half,” he said.

Fearnley managed to start the race on time despite having to attend to a last minute and very messy family matter.

“It was weird; everyone else was lining up on the start line and I had to take my young fella to change his nappy.”

He said it made for a memorable family day out.

“Even to do that was a bit of fun. He actually pushed to the start line with me and when my wife finished [her run in] the half marathon, she grabbed hold of him.

“It’s just a fun day out believe it or not,” he laughed.

Women’s winner Dawes obliterated current NSWIS coach Louise Sauvage’s 1:51:13 race record (1998) and laid claims for her selection in her sixth Australian Paralympic Team.

Today Dawes clocked her first Paralympic ‘A’ qualifying time under 1:46:00 with a stunning 1:43:45.

She said she enjoyed the beginning and end of her race today.

“I like the first five kilometres and last two kilometres because you know you’re nearly there,” she laughed.

“I knew that I wanted to average 24 [kilometres an hour] and I was averaging just over 25 at the 10km mark and I knew the trickiest part of the course was coming up with a lot of the speed humps and a couple of turnarounds.

“But I knew that as long as I kept my pace, I had a lot of lee-way there to get that average up,” she said.

On her Rio expectations, the Paralympic veteran said she was looking forward to whatever awaits.

“I’m very excited about racing and a little bit apprehensive about the Zika virus and the crime rate and things like that, but taking the right precautions. I think we’ll be okay.

“I’m so incredibly excited,” she said.