Hobart’s Eve Mure has claimed victory in the women’s marathon at the EVA Air Marathon in Taipei, delivering a standout performance in her third ever attempt over the distance.
More than 24,000 runners competed across four distances, starting at the Presidential Palace and finishing at Dahzi Bridge. Mure’s win continues a strong tradition of success for Australian athletes in Taipei, with Cassie Fien also claiming the women’s title in 2023.
Competing in only her third marathon, Mure finished in 2:57:38, maintaining a close battle with her nearest competitor throughout much of the race. Trading places on the bridge ramps, she pulled away in the final 10km to secure victory by more than three minutes.
Supported by her parents, Will and Jude Mure, who travelled from Hobart to watch the race and explore Taiwan for the first time, Mure described her international debut as both challenging and rewarding.
“The heat and humidity were intense, but I felt well-prepared after my recent trip to Bali,” she said.
“It was an amazing experience to race in such a vibrant city. The local support and regular aid stations were fantastic.”
Brisbane’s Matt Cooper, a former triathlete turned distance runner, finished seventh in the men’s marathon, also relished the chance to compete.
Cooper described it as one of his toughest races but was pleased in how he managed the heat and tactics of the other top runners who had travelled from throughout Asia to compete.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to race somewhere new and challenging. Competing in Taipei allowed me to see how international events are organised and running a marathon is one of the best ways to see a city,” he said.
“I had a race plan but by 10km I knew it wasn’t going to be a race judged by time. I had a good pack, and we picked off a few runners and at 20k I was in 10th. Then the sun came out and there was zero cloud cover.
“I switched down a few gears in the hope of kicking it down at 35k. But by 25k I knew it was about surviving and holding my goal of a top 10 finish. I was satisfied finishing in 9th, but then discovered 2 runners ahead had stepped off the course somewhere after the 20k turn and I was 7th overall. Honestly, just to finish in those conditions is what I’m most proud about.”
Atlas Events Managing Director Jason Crowther, who raced the event in 2023, commended both athletes for their outstanding performances.
“It’s fantastic to see our athletes not only compete but excel on the international stage. We’re thrilled to have them represent Australia so strongly in such a competitive field,” he said.
Race entries were awarded to the top finishers of the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane Marathons, enabling Australian athletes to compete internationally, experience new race environments, and gain insights from world-class events.
Featured image above: Taipei marathon winners Eve Mure and Suzuki Satoru on stage with EVA Air President Sun Chia-ming.
