2025 Gold Coast Marathon: National Records Fall as Southeast Asian Runners Shine on Historic Weekend

Elite runners shine while everyday heroes from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and beyond make history in the region’s favourite international marathon

GOLD COAST, Queensland, Australia – July 6, 2025 — The 45th edition of the Gold Coast Marathon concluded with a landmark weekend of achievements — from national records set by Southeast Asia’s top runners to inspirational stories of everyday athletes crossing the finish line.

With over 38,000 participants, this year’s race not only broke attendance records but solidified the event’s place as one of the world’s most inclusive and exciting road races.

Indonesia Celebrates Double Marathon Records

Indonesia had its most successful showing in years, as Robi Syianturi made headlines by smashing the Southeast Asian and Indonesian men’s national marathon records, finishing with a time of 2:15:04 that placed him among the top Asian competitors in the field.

In a spectacular double achievement for the nation, the Indonesian women’s national marathon record was also broken by Odekta Naibaho (2:31:34), marking a transformative moment for long-distance running in the country.

The milestone performances set the tone for Indonesia’s road to the 2025 SEA Games, with both athletes now strong medal contenders heading into regional competition.

Singapore’s Vanessa Lee and Shaun Goh Break 5KM National Records

While the marathon was the main event, Singaporean athletes stole the spotlight in the Gold Coast 5KM race, with Vanessa Lee and Shaun Goh each breaking national records for the women's and men's categories respectively.

A rising talent in Singapore's distance running scene, Shaun delivered a blistering performance at the Gold Coast Airport 5km Run, clocking 14:49 and smashing the previous national record of 15:08, set by Soh Rui Yong in September 2023, by a remarkable 19 seconds.

He finished 5th out of 1,797 male runners and emerged as the fastest Asian in the field. With this achievement, Shaun now holds two national road records, adding to his 10km record of 31:00 set in Melbourne last year.

Remarkably, his new 5km road personal best is faster than his track 5000m PB of 14:57.44—a rare occurrence, as track times are typically quicker than road results.

As he sets his sights on the upcoming SEA Games, Shaun has his eyes on the national track records in the 5000m (14:44.21) and 10,000m (31:10.70) events—both currently held by Soh Rui Yong.

In the women's category - Vanessa Lee, known for her versatility on both road and track, powered through the flat Gold Coast course to claim her spot in the national record books. 26-year-old Vanessa delivered a sensational performance, crossing the finish line in 16:57—smashing the previous national record of 17:08 held by Goh Chui Ling since 2022. She placed 4th out of 2,401 female runners, emerging as the fastest Asian woman in the race.

This milestone adds to an impressive string of national records by Vanessa in recent months. In May, she broke the 3000m steeplechase national record with 11:04.18 in Hong Kong. Just two months earlier, she clocked a new 5000m track national record of 17:06.69 in Melbourne. She also currently holds the national records for the 10km road (35:55) and the mile (5:12.74).

Only one national track mark remains within striking distance — the 10,000m record of 36:27.39, set by Yvonne Danson. And based on her current form, even Danson’s long-standing half marathon record (1:16:12) may soon fall.

Both athletes are now poised for strong showings at the SEA Games and could be key figures in Singapore’s ongoing push in middle-distance road racing.

Vanessa's coach Nicole Low, also impressed in Gold Coast by running 1:18:43 in the Half Marathon — making her the second-fastest Singaporean woman of all time over the distance. In the marathon on Sunday, Singapore's Goh Shing Ling became the second fastest Singaporean woman ever in the marathon with her time of 2 hours and 50 minutes, while Ahmad Arif Ibrahim met the SEA Games' qualifying mark but came just 2 minutes short of breaking the 2:30 mark as the fastest Singaporean male, crossing the line at 2:32:05. He was closely followed by Richard Heng (2:33:25) and Keane Ko (2:33:57) from Singapore's elite men's field.

Malaysia’s Yeow Ni Jia and Muhaizar Mohamad Qualify for SEA Games with Sub-2:30 Marathons

Malaysia’s long-distance veterans Yeow Ni Jia (2:27:42) and Muhaizar Mohamad (2:28:48) proved their consistency with impressive sub-2:30 finishes in the full marathon, comfortably qualifying for the 2025 SEA Games.

Their performances underscore Malaysia’s growing depth in the marathon category and signal a renewed challenge to regional rivals come Games time.

Record Participation at Gold Coast Marathon’s 45th Anniversary

Beyond elite performances, the 2025 Gold Coast Marathon made history with its largest-ever participant turnout, as thousands of recreational and competitive runners took to the iconic Queensland course.

Celebrating its 45th anniversary, the event reaffirmed its status as Australia’s premier international road race, attracting top talent and emerging stars from across Asia-Pacific.

Race organisers confirmed a significant uptick in overseas entries, with a notable contingent from Southeast Asia — particularly from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam — reflecting the region’s growing enthusiasm for distance running and world-class iconic Queensland course.

Celebrating its 45th anniversary, the event reaffirmed its status as Australia’s premier international road race, attracting top talent and emerging stars from across Asia-Pacific.

Race organisers confirmed a significant uptick in overseas entries, with a notable contingent from Southeast Asia — particularly from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam — reflecting the region’s growing enthusiasm for distance running and world-class racing opportunities.

Southeast Asia on the Rise in International Marathoning

This year’s results show a clear trend: Southeast Asia’s presence in global distance running is growing stronger. With national records falling, SEA Games qualifications secured, and young talent breaking through, the Gold Coast Marathon continues to serve as a proving ground for the region’s best.

As the countdown to the 2025 SEA Games begins, all eyes will be on athletes like Robi Syianturi, Vanessa Lee, Shaun Goh, Yeow Ni Jia, and Muhaizar Mohamad — who have not only earned their spots on their national teams, but also on the regional and continental radar. Love reading our Gold Coast Marathon content, visit our Gold Coast Marathon microsite for more here. #GCM25 #RunGoldCoast #ThisIsQueensland