Japan’s Shumpei Tomita set a new course record at the Gold Coast Half Marathon on Saturday, finishing in one hour and 52 seconds. His time surpassed the previous record held by Andy Buchanan by 16 seconds, marking a significant achievement in the prestigious event.

Tomita’s victory ended a streak of Australian dominance, as he became the first international winner since 2017. The Japanese athlete maintained a strong pace throughout the race and outpaced Australian contender Edward Marks in the closing stages, securing the win by a narrow margin of five seconds.

Reflecting on his performance, Tomita expressed his excitement and gratitude for the atmosphere at the event. “I am so happy and excited,” he said. “I was very nervous but it was exciting and it was a very powerful energy here and the atmosphere is perfect.”

The Gold Coast Half Marathon, known for attracting a competitive field each year, once again highlighted international talent while delivering a thrilling contest between emerging runners. Tomita’s record-setting run solidifies his presence on the international distance running scene and sets a new benchmark for the event.