The Parramatta Half Marathon made history today, becoming the first running event in Sydney to finish inside CommBank Stadium, as 8,000 runners crossed the line in what is one of the largest road closure Parramatta’s CBD has ever seen.
The official 21.1km course started on O’Connell Street and took runners through Parramatta Park, the CBD, Parramatta Square and along the river foreshore, before delivering them to a stadium finish that no Sydney running event has offered before. The course was officially measured and certified to AIMS and World Athletics standards.
For the first time in the city’s history, Parramatta’s major arterial roads were closed to traffic to accommodate the scale of the event, marking a significant milestone for both the running community and the City of Parramatta as a destination for major sporting events.
Sam Clifford won the men’s race finishing in just over an hour (1:04:14) while Lauren Reid won first place for the women’s at 1:16:07.
“Parramatta truly came alive with the energy and excitement of the first Parramatta Half Marathon, showcasing exactly why our City is fast becoming a major destination for world-class events,” Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter said.
“We saw runners flock from all corners of the country to experience not only the Half Marathon, but also everything we have to offer – from sell-out events, great music acts to the magnificent landscape and wonderful eateries to explore in the CBD.
“Events like this are critical in growing our economy, attracting investment and reinforcing Parramatta’s status as a vibrant, global city.
“Congratulations to all the runners and we thank everyone who came out to support their friends and family.”
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