FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2023 Gold Coast Marathon veteran promoted to Race Director
Events Management Queensland (EMQ) veteran of more than 20 years, Ryan
McDonald will take on a new title and a fitting promotion when he steps out
as Race Director at the 2023 Gold Coast Marathon powered by Chery.
The passionate advocate for all things running and fitness, McDonald
started with Gold Coast Events as it was known in 2003 in a short-term
contract position before taking on a full-time role in Athlete Services in
2004 and becoming the General Manager Event Services in 2014.
And two decades later with a couple of COVID induced marathon cancellations
under his belt he's about to embark on his 19th delivery of the iconic
event with arguably the best elite field in the Gold Coast Marathon's
history.
Reflecting on his years with Gold Coast Events and its evolution to become
Events Management Queensland, McDonald said there was so many elements that
he enjoyed about his career, from working with the dedicated team at EMQ to
building relationships with the elite athletes, the athlete managers and
other marathon organisers from around the globe.
With so much experience on the marathon racing circuit it is really no
surprise to those that know him that the humble and devoted employee still
attributes much of the success of Australia's premier road race event to
his family, wife Katie, children Sienna (12) and Harper (10) and those
people he's worked alongside over the years.
"There are many elements that integrate to deliver a successful event with
the collective input of important stakeholders like the City of Gold Coast,
Queensland Police Service, Ambulance and Fire Services, Transport and Main
Roads, the Marathon Operations Group (affectionately known as the MOG), the
operational contractors and service providers, the many volunteers and
community groups and our highly skilled team at EMQ” McDonald said.
He also acknowledges those that walked in the race director shoes before
him as important figures in his journey to the pinnacle of his career
including past Gold Coast Marathon race directors Dusty Lewis, Dave Cundy
and former EMQ CEO, Cam Hart.
Apart from sharing their time and experience, McDonald notes the passion
and innovations the previous race directors brought to the Gold Coast
Marathon from guiding the event through its first iteration with
chip-timing, instilling standards for technical excellence and establishing
the event as the first race in Oceania to hold a World Athletics Label and
to provide live intermediate split timing and a globally accessible
livestream.
He recounts fondly the 2014 Gold Coast Marathon when Silah Limo (2:09:14)
broke Robert de Castella's 1982 Australian Allcomers marathon record
(2:09:18) and delivered the event's first sub 2:10 result as something
he'll always remember in a career that has enjoyed many highlights.
And whilst he recognises it had been a long time since an Aussie topped the
Gold Coast Marathon podium with Lee Troop in 2006 and Lauren Shelley in
2009 and would love to see a domestic athlete win the race again soon, he
was looking forward to more international athletes returning and
appreciated their support after the COVID cancellations.
As the 2023 Gold Coast Marathon approaches at lightning speed, the event's
official Race Director is all about putting in the hard yards, empowering
the teams around him and evaluating each event to see how it might improve
in what's shaping up to be an illustrious future.
EMQ CEO, Ben Mannion said it was McDonald's tenure with the event, his
expertise and incredible network of contacts coupled with his passion for
the Gold Coast Marathon that underpinned his promotion to Race Director.
The 2023 Gold Coast Marathon powered by Chery weekend will feature the
42.195km marathon, the CPL Wheelchair Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon,
Southern Cross University 10km Run, CPL Wheelchair 10km, Gold Coast Airport
5km Fun Run and the Health and Wellbeing Queensland 2km and 4km Junior
Dashes.
The Gold Coast Double 63.3km event - contested by hardy runners competing
in both Saturday's half and Sunday's full marathon - will also be
contested.
The Gold Coast Marathon powered by Chery is organised by Events Management
Queensland and is proudly supported by the Queensland Government, through
Tourism and Events Queensland, and features on the It's Live! in Queensland
events calendar.
Events Management Queensland acknowledges and pays respect to the
Kombumerri people of the Yugambeh language region, the Saltwater People of
the Gold Coast, as the traditional owners of the lands and waters upon
which we invite and welcome participants from across the globe to
experience our events.
People wanting further information on the 2023 Gold Coast Marathon powered
by Chery events can visit www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au
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