Australia’s marathon record has fallen on home soil after Haftu Strintzos took down Andy Buchanan’s former mark by just two seconds on the Gold Coast. Strintzos crossed the finish line in 2:06:20 to become the first Australian to win the Gold Coast Marathon in 20 years. The performance, in just his fourth marathon, made good on his potential with the 26-year-old declaring he knew “it was just a matter of when and not if”.
Historic Record Change
It is just the third time the record has changed hands in the past 40 years but the first time it has done so in Australia in that time. Rob de Castella’s 2:07:51 effort from the 1984 Boston Marathon held the title until Brett Robinson’s 2:07:31 in Fukuoka, Japan in December 2022. Andy Buchanan lowered it to 2:06:22 at the Valencia Marathon in December 2024 — and now the record belongs to Strintzos.
Strintzos’ Reaction
“Ecstatic. It hasn’t quite registered yet but I’m sure it will soon,” Strintzos said. “This is a memorable moment, a breakthrough moment for me, and I’ve been working hard for this. I’m grateful for all the support I’ve gotten from my peers and my family. Super excited, there’s more to come.”
Journey to the Record
Strintzos failed to finish his debut marathon in April last year due to injury but completed the Sydney Marathon in 2:11:27 last August. He won the Melbourne half-marathon in October, only to collapse to a 2:26:20 finish in his return to the marathon distance in Valencia in December. His hopes were on the rise again when he ran 60:41 to win the Launceston half-marathon five weeks before the Gold Coast Marathon.
Race Strategy
And a big push from the 30km mark on Sunday set him on the path to glory. “I felt pretty good,” Strintzos said. “I’d discussed with my coach Adam prior to the start of the race — depending on how I felt, 30km mark, just go for it. Take my chances and whatever happens happens. I knew I had it in me, it was just a matter of when and not if. This was the perfect opportunity for it with a top field.”
