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Tanzanian, Dickson Marwa will attempt to make it a perfect score card as he lines up for his third big race in as many weeks on Sunday at the Viridian Noosa Half Marathon.
His winning streak began soon after arriving in Australia from Dar Es Salaam on August 5, he beat a record field on just a couple of hours' sleep in the Bridge to Brisbane. After three straight years of finishing second to compatriot Patrick Nyangelo, who did not start, it was Marwa's turn to taste victory.
Last weekend he backed up again at the country’s biggest foot race, Sydney’s City to Surf to outrun over 63,000 plus competitors to claim victory, but narrowly missing the race record held by Steve Moneghetti by 46 seconds.
Moneghetti will again watch on as Marwa attempts to break the 5 year race record at the Noosa Half Marathon (21.1km) set by Scott Westcott back in 2000 (1:03:03).
Marwa, a Commonwealth Games 5000 and 10,000m representative now preparing for the 2008 Beijing Olympics will warm up for Sunday’s race by tackling the Viridian Vertical – a 3.2km hill run for the elite or there is a 1.5km course for the general public.
“Jambo (hello) to everybody in Noosa, I am looking forward to coming up there this weekend. I am feeling well and loose after last weeks race and looking forward to the competition. To win would be good but the record is also an option for me,” said Marwa.
“I am also happy because my training partner will be with my on the weekend cheering me on,” said Marwa.
Marwa’s training partner is a corgi named Eli.
When at home Marwa spends a lot of time training on Mt Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa at 7,000 feet.
The women’s field is just as impressive with the 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medalist Kerryn McCann lining up alongside good friend Krishna Stanton, 2002 Commonwealth Games silver medalist in the marathon.
McCann isn’t making any statements about how she’ll perform on the weekend but the mother of two is certain to be competitive.
“I wasn’t going to do the half, rather Krishna and I were going to do the 10k together, but I’ve stepped up my training lately and am keen to see where I’m at,” said McCann from her home in Coledale, NSW.
In the Noosa 10km race Camp Hill’s Clare Geraghty will be looking to turn the tables this Sunday after being narrowly (1sec) beaten by triathlete Felicity Abram in the Bridge to Brisbane.
Nearly 3000 competitors will take to the streets of Noosa on Sunday in either the half marathon, 10km or 5km run/walk. They will include everyone from professionals to those impressive superhero outfits and possibly some ‘winged butterfly’ runners supporting the Hear and Say Centre.
“Every year we see some wild and wonderful outfits which always amaze us but it’s what the event is all about and adds an entertainment factor to the day,” said Garth Prowd, General Manager, USM Events.
The Viridian Noosa Half running festival is now in its 16th year and is well established as one of the fastest and most picturesque run courses in Australia. The start and finish are in the Lions Park at Noosa Heads and the completely flat course heads out along the Noosa River to Tewantin.
The course is flat, fast, scenic and right in the heart of Noosa and starts and finishes just a stones throw from Noosa Main Beach. Corporate Teams categories in the HALF and 10KM continue to grow with many businesses now using it for their team building program and mid year conferences. The Corp Teams have three competitors from the same company whose times are added together then averaged for final placing’s.
The event is also a major fundraiser for the Hear & Say Centre who provides support and facilities for kids who are hearing impaired and their families.
Late entries will be taken on Saturday afternoon from 2pm and on Sunday morning from 5am at Lions Park.
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