Historic Weekend for Singapore at Gold Coast Marathon 2026: Vanessa Lee Shatters 30-Year National Half Marathon Record, and Shaun Goh Rewrites on 10KM Men's Road Record

Record breaking performances for Singaporean athletes on first day of 2026 Gold Coast Marathon Weekend

PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG

GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND, 4 JULY 2026 - The Gold Coast Marathon 2026 has officially etched its name into Singaporean sporting history. In a spectacular display of endurance and speed on the Australian course, two national records have fallen as Singapore’s elite athletes continue to push the boundaries of distance running.

This year's event has been particularly special for the Singaporean community, which has officially topped the international participation charts. A historic 792 runners from Singapore are participating across the two days, marking the highest number of entrants the nation has ever sent to this prestigious event.

PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG

Vanessa Lee Shatters 30-Year National Half Marathon Record

Vanessa Lee delivered a performance for the ages, crossing the finish line of the half marathon with an incredible time of 1:16:04 (pending official ratification by Singapore Athletics). This feat sees her eclipsing the long-standing Singapore women’s national half marathon record of 1:16:29, previously held by Yvonne Danson for over three decades, since 10 March 1996.

The achievement marks a watershed moment for Singaporean women’s distance running, signaling a new era of competitiveness on the international stage.

Shaun Goh Resets 10KM National Benchmark

Joining Lee in the record books is Shaun Goh, who set a new men’s 10KM road national record (pending official ratification). Stopping the clock at 00:30:41, Goh successfully eclipsed his own previous mark of 00:31:00, set in Melbourne on 22 September 2024.

PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG

Goh’s performance is made all the more remarkable by the unexpected circumstances leading up to the race. Originally registered for the half-marathon, Goh made the strategic decision to downgrade to the 10KM category just last week after feeling under the weather. His ability to pivot and deliver a career-best performance highlights his exceptional form and tactical discipline.

A Weekend of Excellence

The Gold Coast Marathon, a key event supported by Tourism & Events Queensland, continues to be a fertile ground for personal bests and national breakthroughs. For both Lee and Goh, these results are the culmination of intense training blocks and a commitment to elevating Singapore’s standing in the regional and global running community.

Both records are currently pending official ratification. As the community celebrates these historic milestones, all eyes turn to what these athletes will achieve next as they continue their respective seasons.

For more in-depth coverage, athlete interviews, and exclusive features on the Singapore running scene, visit www.sportplus.sg. #GCM26 #GoldCoastMarathon #ThisIsQueensland