Paul Eyanae Triumphs at Perth Running Festival Marathon

Kenya’s Paul Eyanae emerged victorious in the Perth Running Festival marathon on Sunday, finishing nearly seven minutes ahead of his closest competitor. Eyanae maintained his lead throughout the race, ultimately crossing the finish line at Optus Stadium with a time of 2 hours, 16 minutes, and 43 seconds.

Last year’s champion, Samuel Ekutan, finished second with a time of 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 37 seconds, followed by Western Australia’s Tim Hewitt, who clocked in at 2 hours, 28 minutes, and 5 seconds. In the women’s marathon, Fridah Too took first place with a time of 2 hours, 42 minutes, and 13 seconds.

Western Australian running couple Matt Ramsden and Lauren Hyde-Cooling had aimed for a joint victory in their respective half-marathon categories. Ramsden successfully defended his title with a time of 1 hour, 5 minutes, and 25 seconds. However, Hyde-Cooling finished fourth in the women’s half-marathon, behind winner Kate Barker, who completed the course in 1 hour, 18 minutes, and 32 seconds.

The Streamer 10km event concluded with Dan Canala winning after a tight race against Luke Bate, finishing in 32 minutes and 10 seconds. Max Shervington won the Burswood Park 4km dash.

The event, a major fundraiser for Telethon, raised $200,000 according to Paul Nash from Corporate Sports Australia. Nash stated, “This year we closed off registrations at 14,000 participants with additional waitlists for the marathon and half marathon. We had participants from 26 different countries.”

In attendance as favorites in the half-marathon, Matt Ramsden and Lauren Hyde-Cooling are also set to marry on October 26. “It has been a really busy period. It would be awesome to both win,” said Ramsden, reflecting on his challenging year dealing with missed Olympic opportunities and injuries. “I am aiming for the win, and if the time comes, then that is just the cherry on top,” he added.

Kenya’s Bruce Bett, with a decisive half marathon history, was anticipated to challenge Ramsden, alongside competitors like Luke Burrows and Eoin Smuth. Paul Eyanae, Isaac Kimutai, and Samuel Ekutan led the international marathon delegation, with additional expectations for Hugh Williams and Matt Smith from Perth.

This year’s marathon course, known for its flat terrain with only 187 meters of elevation, took runners along the Swan River, through Burswood Park, and over the Matagarup Bridge, concluding inside Optus Stadium. The 42km run marked the 45th Perth Marathon, part of the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group world rankings and the official State championship.