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This Sunday three Australian’s will attempt to break a four year monopoly the Tanzanian’s have had on The Sunday Mail Suncorp Bridge to Brisbane title as the best ever elite field assembles for the tenth anniversary of the event.
The Australian trio, Mark Tucker, Martin Dent and Scott Westcott will face tough competition from the Tanzanians who have made their annual pilgrimage to Australia to contest numerous events around the country.
Alastair Stevenson was the last Australian to win the event back in 2002 (36.54), the race record is held by Australia’s Darren Wilson set back in 2001 (33.44).
Patrick Nyangelo is a three time Bridge to Brisbane winner and will head into Sunday’s event a clear favourite and wearing race bib number one.
Former Bridge to Brisbane winner, Pat Carroll says his money will be on Patrick Nyangelo.
“He has a strong history in the event and will want to knock up another win. The slightly longer race (12km) will suit him better,” said Carroll.
In 2006 Dickson Marwa set a new record winning three of Australia’s biggest events on consecutive weekends.
His winning streak started when he beat home a record field in the Bridge to Brisbane on just a few hours sleep after arriving in Australia, ending compatriot Nyangelo’s three year stranglehold on the event. He then backed up for the country’s biggest foot race, Sydney’s City to Surf to outrun over 63,000 plus competitors to claim victory. Marwa then headed back to Queensland to win the Noosa Half Marathon, narrowly missing the race record set by Scott Westcott back in 2000 (1:03:03).
Marwa, a Commonwealth Games 5000 and 10,000m representative will compete at the World Championships hosted by Osaka, Japan in August as part of his preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Melbourne’s Mark Tucker is on the verge of a major break through in his career, recently winning the Launceston 10km in a personal best time (28.37) ahead of Brett Cartwright and Patrick Nyangelo who was third.
Tucker definitely rates himself a chance in his first Bridge to Brisbane against the quality field.
“Just racing against one of these guys would be hard enough but to have all four in the same race to contend with is daunting to say the least,” said Tucker.
"To put it simply, I expect the race to be hard and fast out front, with whoever wins having to well and truly earn it. Wouldn't be surprised if it takes a time under 35 minutes to win. I'm in good shape so have as good a shot as anyone to win,” Tucker added.
Novacastrian Scott Westcott finished 4th in the marathon (2:16:32) at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. He was then sidelined for six months with injury but bounced back to finish second in the Sydney Half Marathon (64.52) earlier this year.
Westcott will run the Berlin Marathon on September 30 in the hope of posting an A qualifying time ahead of the 2008 Olympics.
Dent will travel from Canberra to race his second Bridge to Brisbane having finished third in 2001 but admits he’s running much better now, although the field is stronger. Dent placed third in the Sydney Half Marathon (65.49) and won the Sutherland to Surf two weeks ago.
Martin started off a steeple chase runner and moved onto the Marathon. He has now moved back to the steeple and hopes to make Beijing in this event.
“It is a really top class field this year, Patrick and Dickson are world class runners and between them have won the City to Surf the past 4 years,” said Dent.
“They work well together and will be hard to beat although Mark (Tucker) showed that they are beatable knocking Patrick off in a fast time two weeks ago in Launceston.” he added.
Dent wants to feel relaxed and run with the front group for as long as possible.
“Running a fast time would be nice but the priority is to finish in the best possible place. This race will be a real test for me to see how I am going against the best runners in Australia,” said Dent.
The women’s division will again be a battle between the runners and the triathletes. In the past five years wins have gone to triathletes Felicity Abram (2002, 2006) and Olympian Rina Hill (2004), while runners Susie Power took line honours in 2005 and Anna Thompson in 2003.
Last years runner up Clare Geraghty will be looking to settle the score against the triathletes this weekend but will face 2004 champion Rina Hill, two time Olympian and renowned for her lethal run leg in triathlon.
Organisers are expecting a record field of 28,000 runners. The 12km event kicks off at 6.30am starting at the southern base of the Gateway Bridge then the 4.5km event gets underway from 9.30am in Amy Street.
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