What’s happening?
The Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport Marathon returned bigger in 2025 as a two-day event, with over 3,000 runners taking part in various races including the Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, Visit Toowoomba Region 10km, Elite Mile, Relay, and 5km. Local and visiting athletes made headlines with back-to-back wins and record-setting performances across all distances.
Why it matters
The event not only showcased elite and emerging talent but also drew first-time visitors and reinvigorated community engagement through a festival-style weekend. Organisers highlighted the growing role of the marathon in building Toowoomba’s Olympic legacy ahead of Brisbane 2032, with volunteering and regional tourism at the heart of the event’s expansion.
Local Impact
Toowoomba Mayor Geoff McDonald praised the event’s evolution: “Putting it over two days encourages people to stay longer… there’s been a lot of first-time visitors to the region which is part of the motivation for this event,” he said.
“It’s just the vibe, it’s just phenomenal… Volunteering will be the backbone of the Olympics and Paralympics in 2032, so to build that up over the next seven years is important.”
By the Numbers
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3,000 participants ran across all events during the weekend.
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1,000 runners joined the ASICS Half Marathon alone.
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Jamie Lacey set a new course record of 2:38:52 in the marathon.
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Kathryn Parkinson ran a race record 2:51:42, finishing third overall among 170 marathon starters.
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The Visit Toowoomba Region 10km drew a field of 783 runners.
Zoom In
Local runner Jamie Lacey defended his marathon title in style. “I took a lot of the learnings from last year into this race… I feel I did a much better job all-round,” he said. He described running with Half Marathoners early on as helping him establish rhythm.
Kathryn Parkinson also claimed back-to-back marathon wins despite a hamstring niggle: “The hills, they don’t leave you guessing, but the community was just brilliant… it feels like coming home and running through the park,” she said. Parkinson now sets her sights on the Gold Coast and Sydney Marathons.
In the ASICS Half Marathon, Brisbane’s Aidan Hobbs won again, just six days after running the Ballarat Marathon. “Those hills really sorted things out,” he said.
Women’s winner Lily Dolton, running her hometown half-marathon debut, said: “It was a great course… I just wanted to enjoy the race.”
Olympic steeplechaser Brielle Erbacher won the 10km women’s event, following her Elite Mile appearance the day before. “There were a horrible lot of hills… but the crowds were amazing,” she said.
Zoom Out
Events Management Queensland CEO Ben Mannion reflected on the event’s impact: “This weekend has exceeded all our expectations… many people I’ve spoken to talk of the experience well before they talk of their races or results,” he said.
He emphasised the marathon’s growing role in Toowoomba’s Olympic preparations: “Volunteerism will be key to the success of the 2032 Games.”
What to Look for Next?
Organisers plan to deliver a bigger event in 2026, further embedding the marathon as a signature event on Toowoomba’s calendar and a key platform for Olympic city readiness.
