Southern Cross University and ASICS Gold Coast Marathon: partnership in full stride

43,000 runners from around 60 countries took part in the 2026 ASICS Gold Coast Marathon, making the 46th edition of the iconic event its biggest yet – last year’s event attracted 39,000 runners, the largest edition to date.

Across two days of racing, athletes of all ages and abilities came together on the Gold Coast to chase personal bests, celebrate achievements, and experience one of Australia’s premier sporting events, including the sold-out Southern Cross University 10km Run, which also recorded its largest field of runners to date (more than 8,000 entrants).

Professor Fiona Naumann, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health, presented trophies to the placegetters at the 2026 Southern Cross University 10km Run.

ASICS Gold Coast Marathon Education Partner

In its 19th consecutive year, the partnership between Southern Cross University and the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon has also scaled new heights. In addition to being a Naming Rights Partner, the University has been, for the first time, also the Marathon’s Official Education Partner.

“It’s wonderful to see our Southern Cross community come together through the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon – as runners, volunteers, supporters and students gaining real-world experience. After 19 years, this partnership continues to reflect our shared commitment to wellbeing, learning and community connection,” said Professor Julie Jomeen, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).

“Having a brand like Southern Cross University attached to an event like the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon is so important. And as we continue to grow, partnership continues to grow as well,” said Ben Mannion, Chief Executive Officer at Events Management Queensland.

Recovery Hub and ASICS Recovery Zone

Throughout race weekend, athletes visited the Southern Cross University Recovery Hub and the ASICS Recovery Zone, where Southern Cross health students, under the supervision of qualified practitioners, delivered recovery treatments to support participants following their races. The initiative provided valuable hands-on experience for students while helping runners recover after crossing the finish line.

For students, the experience offered a unique opportunity to apply classroom learning in a high-performance sporting environment while contributing to a major community event.

“We have a certain amount of hours within our placement that we need to fulfill. We can achieve those throughout our SCU Health Clinic and participating in events like the Marathon.

“It’s really interesting, as we get to see a diverse range of patients and some injuries that we don’t usually see in the Clinic. It’s really refreshing and a great learning opportunity for us as students,” said Jai Molloy, Master of Osteopathic Medicine student who was in the Recovery Hub last year.

“I think it’s an amazing experience to get the students to learn about other disciplines and not just what we do as osteopaths, but what physiotherapists do, what exercise physiologists do,” Kristy Buist, Work Integrated Learning Academic coordinator – Osteopathy.

The National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM) will also be onsite, offering therapeutic teas and expert consultations to support recovery and wellbeing after the race.

“We’ve got the practical as well as the theory, so they marry together beautifully. There’s great support, and all the students support each other too, which is just beautiful,” said Nicole Osmak, Master of Naturopathic Medicine in attendance in 2025.

Team SCU

Team SCU celebrated one of its biggest and most successful Gold Coast Marathon campaigns to date, recording 200 race entries across all events.

This outstanding result placed the University among the largest corporate teams at this year’s event, reflecting the incredible momentum and community pride shared by students, staff, alumni and the wider university community.

The team included approximately 85 students and around 110 staff and community members, with many athletes participating in multiple events. Around 70 University runners took part in the Southern Cross University 10km Run, contributing to an impressive weekend of participation and achievement.

“This year has marked a milestone for Team SCU, with one of our biggest team ever taking part in the Marathon. This growth reflects the consistent work of our team in creating inclusive, engaging opportunities that bring students, staff, alumni and the wider Southern Cross community together. It’s incredibly rewarding to see participation continue to grow each year and to build a strong sense of connection and pride through sport.

“It’s fantastic to see Team SCU growing. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to create opportunities that are accessible and engaging, and it’s really rewarding to see more students, staff and community members getting involved each year,” said Swathi Kartik, Senior Manager Stay Well, Student Support & Success Directorate.

The Final Kick webinar

In the lead-up to the marathon, Southern Cross University hosted The Final Kick webinar, bringing together leading experts to unpack the final elements of race readiness.

The session explored evidence-based performance strategies, injury prevention, recovery, pacing and mindset, offering participants a practical guide to feeling prepared, confident and ready to perform on race day at this year’s Gold Coast Marathon.

The panel featured Olympian and former professional triathlete Courtney Atkinson, co-host of the In The Beginning podcast; Bimbi Gray, registered osteopath and Southern Cross University Course Coordinator for Osteopathy; Dr Chrissy Freer, nutritionist, health author and Southern Cross University Clinical Trial Research Fellow; and Dr Chris Stevens, Southern Cross University Chair of Human Sciences and Rehabilitation.