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Running Champions Join In Spirit Of Sydney Celebration
13 September 2003- Pat Farmer Mp Welcomes Marathoners Home & Invites Two To Join 'the Pm's Team'
- Tamsyn Lewis Leads Kids' Fun Run 4 Health
- Steve Moneghetti Runs With Cardiac Surgeon
- Heather Turland Runs With Fellow Mother-Of-Four
Leading Australian athletes and celebrities will join thousands of runners from around Australia and the world in the race that stops the nation's iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge - the third Sydney Marathon Festival - tomorrow, Sunday September 14.
Key points about tomorrow's festival follow:
- The festival will determine the final two positions in the 2003-2004 'Prime Minister's Team - Running For A Future'. The positions will be filled by the first Australian male and female runners across the line in the Flora Sydney Marathon, which doubles as the Australian Marathon Championships. Ultramarathon champion and Federal Member of Parliament Pat Farmer, will be at the marathon finish line, at Sydney Olympic Park, from 9.15am, to welcome the Australian Champions home and officially announce their selection in 'The PM's Team'. The PM's Team, a Federal Government partnership launched at Parliament House last Thursday, is a marathon mentoring and talent identification programme. Each year, five up-and-coming marathon runners selected in The PM's Team will be given the opportunity to further their running careers and be partnered with sporting and business mentors including Herb Elliott, Rob de Castella, Steve Moneghetti and Kerryn McCann.
- The festival also inlcudes the Kids Fun Run 4 Health, for under 12's, which will be led by Australian 800m champion and Olympian Tamsyn Lewis. Those wanting to enter should meet Tamsyn by the cauldron in Overflow Park at Sydney Olympic Park, between 9am and 9.30am. Entry is a gold coin donation to the National Heart Foundation and the run starts at 9.45am.
- Four-time Olympian Steve Moneghetti will run the marathon with Melbourne cardiac surgeon Jacob Goldstein, the winner of the 2003 'Run The Marathon With Mona' competition
- Commonwealth Games gold medalist and reigning Australian Marathon Champion Heather Turland will run the half-marathon with mother-of-four Catherine Rasmussen, the winner of the 2003 'Run The Half With Heather' competition
- The Festival is an annual celebration of the Sydney 2000 Games and the signature race, the Flora Sydney Marathon, is an official legacy event of 'the best Olympic Games ever'
- The festival is the only community run that closes the Sydney Harbour Bridge to traffic.
- This year's festival is expected to attract 13,000-14,000 entrants across the three major runs - the Flora Sydney Marathon; the Flora/The Sunday Telegraph Half Marathon and The Sunday Telegraph 10k Bridge Run.
- The 2003 festival has also attracted a record number of more than 600 international entries, with the overseas contingent representing 27 countries. International runners comprise more than 16% of the 1,600-strong marathon field.
- The festival incorporates some of Australia's most famous landmarks with the 10k Bridge Run finishing at the Sydney Opera House, while the marathon and half marathon closely follow the famous 'blue line' to Sydney Olympic Park.
- A host of celebrities will take part in the 10k Bridge Run representing a variety of charities including 'Make A Wish Foundation' and Don Spencer's 'Australian Children's Music Foundation'.
- The National Heart Foundation is the festival's official charity.
- The three main runs start at North Sydney (between 6.30am and 7.30am) and cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Media releases providing more information on the above can be accessed at www.sydneymarathon.org
For further information or to obtain accreditation, please contact Mary-Anne Dibbs, Media Manager, Sydney Marathon Festival on 0419 288 102.
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