World-Class Runners to Chase Records and $50,000 Prize Pool on June 1

May 6, 2025

Elite Fields Announced

The stage is set for an electric day of racing at the 2025 McGrath Launceston Running Festival, with what is likely to be the deepest half marathon fields ever assembled on Australian soil for both the Peppers Silo Half Marathon, to be held on Sunday, 1 June.

As the only World Athletics Elite Label road race in the Southern Hemisphere, Launceston continues to attract global talent to its famously fast and flat course. This year, athletes will chase part of a $50,000 prize pool, along with time-based bonuses and potential course records.

🔥 Half Marathon Showdown

Leading the men’s field is Australian record holder Brett Robinson (59:57), who headlines a stellar line-up featuring a deep Japanese contingent including:

  • Tsubasa Ichiyama (1:00:22)
  • Teruki Shimada (1:00:56)
  • Hiroto Kuniyasu (1:01:30)
  • Ryuichi Yoshioka (1:01:38)
  • Kento Otsu (1:01:43)

Recently crowned Australian marathon record holder Andy Buchanan (1:00:28) returns to the race with an elevated profile after becoming an Olympian last year and placing 11th in the London Marathon a little over a week ago.  

The depth is so strong, that organisers had to bring in Japanese rising star Kento Baba (1:00:26) to be the pacemaker.  He’s part of the Japanese team for the World University Games half marathon in July.  

6 time Olympian and Mongolian record holder Ser-Od Bat-Ochir will also use the race as a lead up to his 12thstraight run in the World Athletics Championships to be staged on the streets of Tokyo in September.  

With 19 men clocked under 64 minutes, the race promises to be one of the fastest in Australian history.

After a blistering Australian record over 10km on Saturday night, Launceston’s Sam Clifford also steps up to the longer distance, with the Tasmanian record of 62:39 clearly on borrowed time.  

Other notables include:

  • Liam Adams (1:02:15)
  • Ed Goddard (1:02:01)
  • Ryan Gregson (1:03:00), Olympic 1500m finalist
  • Deon Kenzie, Paralympic medallist, debuting over the distance

In the women’s race, fans can expect fireworks as three of Australia’s finest line up:

  • Leanne Pompeani (1:09:01), 10km course record holder and rising star
  • Jess Stenson (1:09:04), 2022 Commonwealth Games marathon champion
  • Milly Clark (1:10:48), 2016 Olympian Marathoner

They’ll be challenged by Japan’s Yumi Yoshikawa (1:09:32) and fellow Australians Sarah Klein, and Caitlin Adams.

Asian marathon champion Khishigsaikhan Galbadrakh (1:10:32) of Mongolia rounds out a truly world class field.  

⚡ Stacked Tamar Chiro 10km Fields

In the men’s 10km, local favourite and Olympic finalist Stewart McSweyn (28:03) headlines a strong line-up. He’ll be pushed by:

  • James Hansen (28:20) 2022 race winner
  • Matt Buckell (29:27)
  • Hamish Longworth (29:31)
  • A wave of emerging Australian talent including Luca Di Conza and Tynan Mims

On the women’s side, Ruby Smee (33:07) enters as the one to beat, facing a quality field that includes:

  • Kate Spencer (33:28)
  • Charlotte Wilson (33:54)
  • Melanie Daniels, Saskia Lloyd, and Rebecca Lowe, all sub-34 contenders

Race Director Richard Welsh said the 2025 edition is shaping up to be the festival’s most competitive to date:

“This year we’ve significantly increased our funding into the elite athlete program, which is clearly shown in the fields we’ve assembled for June 1.  This will be like nothing we’ve ever seen before, Launceston is ready for an unforgettable day of racing. This event continues to grow, and we’re proud to see it recognised globally with the World Athletics Elite Label,” Welsh said.  

The McGrath Launceston Running Festival includes 4 events to choose from and the event has already surpassed its participation record of 2080 set last year;

  • Peppers Silo Half Marathon
  • Tamar Chiro 10km
  • The Athlete’s Foot 5km
  • Liv Eat Mile

Men Half Marathon

Brett Robinson

Tsubasa Ichiyama

Kento Baba

Andy Buchanan

Teruki Shimada

Hiroto Kuniyasu

Ryuichi Yoshioka

Kento Otsu

Ed Goddard

Joel Tobin-White

Liam Adams

Isaac Heyne

Liam Boudin

Ser-Od Bat-Ochir

Ryan Gregson

Oliver Chignell

Jinya Ozaki

Sam Clifford

Jacob Cocks

Andre Waring

Bailey Murzeki-Hince

Tom Bowers

Alastair Christy

Matthew Schaumberg

Fraser Darcy

Lachlan Scott

Luke Mitchell

Pat Hennessy

Sam Hopper

Alex Shaw

Tipo Packman

Jack Maxwell

Samuel Maurer

Phil McConnon

Daniel Wood

Deon Kenzie

Women Half Marathon

Leanne Pompeani

Jess Stenson

Yumi Yoshikawa

Khishigsaikhan Galbadrakh

Milly Clark

Sarah Klein

Caitlin Adams

Vanessa Wilson

Bree Golub

Isobel Hume

Men 10km

Stewart McSweyn

James Hansen

Matt Buckell

Hamish Longworth

Luca Di Conza

Nick Earl-Jones

Luke Hince

Tynan Mims

Thomas Dowd

Matt Hansen

Michael Marantelli

Jordan Skelly

Nick Dewar

Isaac Shaw

Lachlan Hall

Sam Bunnage

Jacob Gardner

Marco Els

Harm Schaap

Matt Patton

Jess Dunsmore

Angus Lennecke

Cameron Sayce

Paul Luttrell

Jimmy Hortle

Women 10km

Ruby Smee

Kate Spencer

Charlotte Wilson

Melanie Daniels

Rebecca Lowe

Saskia Lloyd

Annabelle Eastman

Amy Fawcett

Lilly Ellis

Brooke Williams

Jennifer Clancy

Nerissa O'Donnell

Eloise Doherty

Olivia Twining

Kaitlin McIntosh

Erin Pottharst

Lucie Spurling

See you IN 2025

June 1, 2025
ENTER NOW