What’s happening?
The third annual Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport Running Festival was held on Sunday, 3 May 2026.
Almost 3000 participants took part across the city on the long weekend.
Spectators lined the streets as runners faced Toowoomba’s hills in clear conditions.
The event included the ASICS Half Marathon, Visit Toowoomba Region 10km Run, The Grand Central 5km and the Elite Mile.
Full results are HERE.
Why it matters?
The festival has become a growing community sporting event for Toowoomba.
It brought runners, families, spectators and volunteers into the city streets.
Events Management Queensland CEO Ben Mannion said the event received strong feedback.
“It’s been a wonderful event and fantastic to see so many spectators lining the streets to cheer the participants on,” Mr Mannion said.
“We made some changes to the structure of this year’s event and the feedback has been really positive from our event partners, participants and the community.”
“The Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport Running Festival has again showcased itself as a popular community event.”
Toowoomba Mayor Geoff McDonald also took part in the 5km run.
“What a fantastic event to see so many people out on the side cheering everyone on. It was phenomenal. It’s the best year yet,” Mayor McDonald said.
“Third year, best year, looking forward to next year.”
Local Impact
The festival gave Toowoomba a busy long weekend of sport, support and local pride.
Mayor McDonald said many visitors were enjoying the city.
“I took a bit of time to take a few photos and chat with people and everyone is so enthused by this event,” he said.
“There are lots of people from out of town just loving what we have here so the Toowoomba Wellcamp Running Festival is a winner.”
Local runners also helped shape the day.
Toowoomba runner Beau Harvey finished second in the men’s half marathon.
“It’s pretty hilly out there but I run it quite a bit so that helped knowing where the hills were,” Harvey said.
“The crowds were good – lots of noise and that helps you get up the hills.”
Toowoomba local Lily Dolton, the defending women’s half marathon champion, finished second this year.
“It was pretty tough. I just tried to hang on to the leader but she was just so strong today,” Dolton said.
“I was a bit slower this year (compared to last year). I think mentally I just wasn’t really in it.”
“It’s nice to run a race in your hometown and yeah the hills were a bit tough today, but I think it’s a unique race in that sense.”
Toowoomba Road Runner member Meg Reeves won the women’s 10km race.
“It was amazing, I live in Toowoomba and run around these streets with my dog at a steady pace but I tried to up it today without Betty pulling me along,” Reeves said.
“The spirit, the community support, hats off to Toowoomba, the event organisers, the volunteers, everyone taking part – it really was up there in my top five ever events.”
On being part of the Toowoomba Road Runners, she praised the club’s wider community role.
“They are such an all-inclusive, welcoming club, but it goes much deeper than just running and walking – it’s so community minded with a lot of moral support. They do a lot for community so a big shout out to all the people on the water stations too.”
By the numbers
- Robert Collins won the ASICS Half Marathon in 1:11:34, ahead of Beau Harvey in 1:14:06 and Jamie Lacey in 1:14:17.
- Rohan Hickey won the Visit Toowoomba Region 10km in 32:34, just shy of the 32:21 Toowoomba course record.
- The festival is one of five Events Management Queensland events in 2026, alongside the Gold Coast T100 World Triathlon, ASICS Gold Coast Marathon, Transurban Bridge to Brisbane and Pan Pacific Masters Games.
Zoom In
Brisbane runner Robert Collins won the ASICS Half Marathon.
He finished well clear of his rivals, with his wife Claire and daughter Paige cheering him on.
Collins is a two-time Sunshine Coast Marathon winner.
His Toowoomba result was his first half-marathon victory.
“It was very hilly, so it was a good hit out,” Collins said.
“I’m doing the Sydney Marathon later this year, so that’s going to be hilly one so yeah it was good to condition the legs a bit.”
“Through about the first 7km I had another runner with me but I was solo from 7km onwards and was just battling myself.”
“It was great to have my wife and daughter here.”
Two-time Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport Marathon winner Jamie Lacey finished third in the half-marathon.
“It was pretty tough – there is nowhere to hide on the hills out there – it was a good competitive race and I was happy to get it finished,” Lacey said.
“Great crowd turnout for Toowoomba.”
Brisbane runner Cassie Fien won the women’s half marathon in 1:20:52.
“It was really brutal out there today – the hills were really tough. It was the hilliest course I’ve ever raced actually – it was really tough but really rewarding,” Fien said.
“Toowoomba has put on an absolutely beautiful day for us today, the camaraderie – everyone’s hurting at the same level but it’s all relative and it was just really cool to share the road on a Sunday all over wellbeing and fitness.”
“I didn’t have a plan – I got the word that it was really hilly so I just kind of went out conservatively and just kind of played it out. There was a couple of those hills right at the end and I didn’t know if they were going to end but I did get up them and it was really rewarding once you finished.”
In the 10km race, Sunshine Coast-based university student Rohan Hickey claimed victory.
“I was really happy. I was trying to go for the course record, but I think I might have just got over it,” Hickey said.
“It’s a couple minutes slower than I normally do but that’s what I was expecting with all the hills. It’s probably the hardest road course I’ve ever done, it was brutal.”
“It’s a great course, up at Prince Henry Heights looking out over the mountains was really beautiful and there were plenty of spectators.”
“It’s really well organised.”
Chris Bracken finished second in the 10km after winning the 5km last year.
“I stepped up to the 10km after winning the 5km in last year’s event,” Bracken said.
“It was a tough course, but I knew it was going to be – it was a good effort.”
“There was great crowds out there – the drink stations were really good – I really enjoyed it and I’ll be back next year for sure.”
Ben Drew finished third in the 10km.
“The top two guys took it to me right from the get-go and I thought then it was going to be a brutal day on the hills,” Drew said.
“It’s always fun running around Prince Henry, and definitely a challenge you don’t get around other races.”
“The crowds were super supportive even the other athletes in the 10, they were all cheering us as we came back. I don’t know how they did it, I was just happy to function. It was a great experience.”
In The Grand Central 5km, Toowoomba teenagers Riley and Mason Morris completed a family quinella.
Riley won in 16:40, ahead of younger brother Mason in 17:23.
“It feels so good – so much hard work went into this race. At the airport last year, I didn’t have the best race but it’s great to be here and I’m really happy,” Riley said.
“There was lots of training 50-60km weeks and pushing 5km work.”
“The crowd really pushed me on – I was so thankful.”
On training and preparation, Riley said the work started well before race day.
“I did the Gold Coast 5k last year and did a big PB – lots of cross country, lots of speed work, just trying to get faster and faster.”
Asked what he liked about running, Riley said it came back to effort.
“You just have to work hard to be good – you’ve just got to work as hard as you can.”
He also said racing with Mason made the result more meaningful.
“It was really good racing with my brother, me and Mason love to run together, long runs, easy runs – it’s just so good seeing Mason do so well.”
Layla Magarey won the women’s 5km race in a personal best time of 19:23.
She had placed second in 2024 and fourth in 2025.
“That’s a PB so I’m pretty happy with that,” Magarey said.
“I was originally entered in the 10km by accident and I’m so grateful we changed it (yesterday).”
“The race tactic was to gun the downhill as much as you can because realistically, we’re all struggling on the uphill. So I wanted to bank enough time, get a good enough lead to eventually just push whatever I had left on the uphill.”
Her family also took part across the event.
“Mum paced the half and did that perfectly, Dad ran the 10km and really well. And then the rest of my siblings are going to do the mile. Yeah, we all love it.”
In the Elite Mile and Queensland Road Mile Championship, Brisbane runner Jaxon Paterson won the men’s race.
He took line honours and the Queensland Road Mile Championship in 4:10.
“That was incredible,” Paterson said.
“I’ve never done a road mile before so to run through the main road in a small town like this with such a good culture is really unbelievable to be honest.”
“It was super fun – the turn around came up really quickly but then that last 100 metres felt like an eternity.”
“A road race is much interesting for the spectators – I thought I was going to get caught but I was happy to hold on.”
“It’s so great to be here in a place like Toowoomba, it’s a lot smaller and everyone was definitely getting out there today and showing support.”
Gold Coast track athlete Sayla Donnelley won the women’s elite mile in 4:50.
She also became the 2026 Queensland Road Mile Champion.
“I love the event, it was awesome, such a good environment,” Donnelley said.
“Everyone went out hard and then it was just like, turn around and sprint home.”
“My coach told me about the event because I was on a bit of a break after Nationals.”
“I’ve actually been involved with the Gold Coast Marathon for multiple years holding the finishing tape, so it’s cool to be on the other side of it.”
Zoom Out
The Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport Running Festival sits within a larger Events Management Queensland calendar.
In 2026, that calendar also includes the Gold Coast T100 World Triathlon.
It also includes the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon, Transurban Bridge to Brisbane and Pan Pacific Masters Games.
The Toowoomba event also adds to the region’s growing sports profile.
Mayor McDonald said it could support the wider sporting mood before Brisbane 2032.
“I’m hopeful it’ll be a great lead-in to the Olympics and Paralympics in 2032 and we’ll see international athletes here in May, so they’re getting ready for the June, July, August Olympic Paralympics,” he said.
Events Management Queensland acknowledged the Traditional Custodians of the Toowoomba Region.
It paid respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
What To Look For Next?
The strong crowd response has set a positive tone for next year’s event.
Mayor McDonald said he was already looking forward to the festival returning.
Event information and entries for the Toowoomba Marathon are available at the website.