Sydney Shines As 25,000 Runners Take to the Streets for the 2025 HOKA Runaway Sydney Half Marathon

• In the elite races, Sydney’s Ed Goddard clinches threepeat while New Zealand based British runner Beth Garland claims first time honours in the HOKA Runaway Sydney Half Marathon
• Titles in the 10km race went to Maxy Letten and Tia Fulton
• MEDIA ASSETS: A VNR of the event can be downloaded here and a selection of images can be found here.

The streets of Sydney came alive on Sunday morning as more than 25,000 registered participants embraced one of Australia’s most iconic road races – the HOKA Runaway Sydney Half Marathon, with the event celebrating its biggest ever edition in its 32-year history.

Leading the charge in the elite half marathon races were Sydney’s Ed Goddard and New Zealand based British runner Beth Garland, who claimed dominant victories in the men’s and women’s fields, respectively.

Goddard wrote his name further into the history books of the event as he clinched a historic third title in as many races as he became the first athlete to win three in a row.

“It's awesome to win three in a row. I kind of want to make it one of those events where I come back year on year on year and try to win such an iconic Sydney race. Being a Sydney local, it’s pretty special,” said Goddard.

The 27-year-old stamped his authority on the men’s race from the outset as he surged to the front, establishing a decisive lead by the halfway point and never relinquishing control to break the tape in 1:06:11.

“It’s always such a great event, but it's always such a tough course as well. I mean, it's iconic, but it's a real grind as well. A lot of little hills and a couple of big ones as well, so it's just about getting into as much of a rhythm as you can,” he said.

“It's a great event, in my eyes, it's almost up there with City2Surf and all those great Sydney races. I have so many friends racing, so many people out watching, it’s great.”

Rounding out the men’s podium were Matt Smith, who finished as runner-up behind Goddard for the second year in a row, in 1:07:29, and Saeki Makino, finishing in 1:08:18.

In the women’s race, Garland delivered a similarly dominant performance. The Brit led from the early stages of the race and would continue to extend her advantage all the way to the finish line. Garland’s time of 1:17:25 was over a minute clear of Kirra Seidel in 1:18:38. In a dramatic race for third, Samantha Vance managed to narrowly edge out Alice Daniel to claim the final podium position by just one second.

“I'm absolutely stoked. It’s the first big half on the road I’ve won, so I’m really pleased with that,” said Garland. “I was surprised, I started to feel really good at around 5k and thought I'd just push on and didn't intend to be leading from that point, but just felt good, so thought I'd go with it.”

Garland was racing the Runaway Sydney Half Marathon for the first time, making the most of her time in Sydney while visiting her brother on her way home to Wellington in New Zealand.

“My twin brother lives in Sydney, he's actually out running still, and I always wanted to do this one, and it's actually a stopover back to New Zealand where I live, so thought I'd have 48 hours here and come and race. It's been great,” she said. “The course is beautiful, really enjoyed it. I love all the out and backs, amazing views of the city. Absolutely stunning.”

Elite runner Simon Davidson, who just over 12 months ago was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, finished 23rd in the men’s race in 1:16:00.

The event also included a 10km race, with Maxy Letten the first person across the finish line to win the men’s race in 33:28, improving on his third-place finish from last year. Sean McClure and James Mason rounded out the men’s podium.

In the women’s 10km, Tia Fulton was impressive in victory, taking the tape in 40:36, just under a minute ahead of Madi Roberts in second. Chloe Jones completed the women’s podium in third.

Following the start of the elite wave, more than 25,000 registered participants got their race underway and navigated a 21.1km or 10km course through the heart of Sydney, cheered on by enthusiastic crowds who turned out in their thousands. Runners took in the sights and sounds of the city as they ran past iconic landmarks like the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Barangaroo Reserve, The Rocks, and Pyrmont Peninsula.

Amongst the party, giving back to charity is an integral part of the Runaway Sydney Half Marathon. There are four official Superstar Charities for the 2025 event, with plenty more being supported by runners through their participation. The total fundraising target of the event has already been broken, with donations nearing $750,000.

One of those charity runners was Gabrielle Spinks, who was taking part in her first ever half marathon to fundraise for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation, who have done an amazing job supporting her daughter Eleanore while she battles a rare form of brain cancer. Gabrielle has raised more than $12,500 so far.

Meanwhile, brothers Stefan and Lachlan Lamble, better known as The Lambros, continued their training for their latest challenge – to run the entire length of the UK – by completing the Runaway Sydney Half Marathon. The brothers, who are on a mission to raise £250,000 for cancer research after losing their grandmother to the disease, finished today’s race in under two hours.

2025 HOKA Runaway Sydney Half Marathon – Results
Men
1. Ed Goddard – 1:06:11
2. Matt Smith – 1:07:29
3. Saeki Makino – 1:08:18
4. Cameron Merrick – 1:09:52
5. Boris Blanc – 1:09:53

Women
1. Beth Garland – 1:17:25
2. Kirra Seidel – 1:18:38
3. Samantha Vance – 1:18:43
4. Alice Daniel – 1:18:44
5. Jess Suriano – 1:20:14

10km Results
Men
1. Maxy Letten – 33:28
2. Sean McClure – 35:42
3. James Mason – 35:48
4. Jackson Stanfield – 36:56
5. Thomas Walker – 38:09

Women
1. Tia Fulton – 40:36
2. Madi Roberts – 41:22
3. Chloe Jones – 44:33
4. Rochelle Gould – 44:36
5. Sally King – 44:47