Franklin, Thurston Qualify for New York Marathon
Indigenous Marathon Foundation duo complete a 30-kilometer Alice Springs trial; eye New York City race and raise $1 million for IMF.
Two Australian sporting icons — Buddy Franklin and Johnathan Thurston — have qualified to run the New York Marathon after completing a 30-kilometer selection trial in Alice Springs as part of the Indigenous Marathon Foundation program.
The pair, both IMF members, began training together in July after finishing the Gold Coast Half Marathon with thousands of others. The Alice Springs trial, run before sunrise in hot conditions, capped months of endurance work. They were greeted by a hug at the finish.
Rob De Castella, a former long-distance running figure in Australia, was on hand at the finish. Franklin, who retired from AFL in 2023 after a storied career with Hawthorn and Sydney Swans, is regarded as one of the league's greatest goalkickers. Thurston, who retired in 2018 after representing Queensland 37 times and winning four Dally M Medals, is among the NRL's most decorated players.
Both are aiming to raise $1 million for IMF, which uses running to empower First Nations people to strive for greatness. "We've all got a purpose here with the Indigenous Marathon Project, so thinking about my family and the other squad members," Thurston said in July. Franklin has said the preparation has been structured, with daily training and regular progressions: "I've done a lot of work for this, obviously playing football for 19 years and then retiring, I think it's really been great for me. It's been really structured and I've set aside a few hours every day to make sure I'm fit enough to get through. Literally every six to seven weeks there's a progression which is really good … I think with all the other guys and women doing it with the foundation it's going to be pretty cool to see the progression."
Last month, the Aussie legends united on the Sunshine Coast to participate in IMF's national campaign, taking part in a 'Make Your Mark' beach activation following the McDonald's Half Marathon, with a giant sand artwork calling on Australians to support IMF's efforts to empower First Nations communities. Having now completed the Gold Coast Half Marathon, the Sunshine Coast Half Marathon and the Alice Springs 30km, the pair have booked their places at the New York Marathon, set for Sunday, November 2.