SYDNEY 10 Preview: Line-up includes Nedd Brockman, Olympians and rising road running stars

14 May 2026

SYDNEY 10 Preview: Line-up includes Nedd Brockman, Olympians and rising road running stars

The men’s and women’s fields for the 18th edition of the Sydney 10 have attracted a strong line-up including Olympians, leading Australian road runners, ultra runners, race greats and celebrities. They will hit the roads of Sydney Olympic Park from early this Sunday morning.

The Sydney 10 race, which incorporates the NSW 10km Road Running Championships, was first held in 1927 and we will conduct its 95th edition this year. Sydney Olympic Park became the home of the Sydney 10 in 2008, after the State Championships had been held in many locations including Manly, Centennial Park and Holsworthy Army Base. We recognise the great event the Sydney Striders club developed prior to 2008. The club continues to be an integral part of the event, providing dozens of pace runners who sacrifice their own race to assist other athletes to run PBs.

GREATS AND LEGENDS

Olympian and 3-time winner Scott Westcott starts the 2026 race, along with dual Olympian and runner up last year Jenny Blundell. Five-time winner in the 1990s and race legend Paul Arthur will be run in his masters age division. 2015 NSW 10,000m champion Brad Croker is aiming for around 31 minutes, while ultra runner Nedd Brockman, who ran 3760 laps around Sydney Olympic Park in 2024, will run just one more on Sunday at the end of the 10km race, aiming for around 31:30 minutes. 

MEN ELITE

After recording 29:03 and 29:06 10km road performances in the last 10 months, Luke Hince has earned the favouritism tag, but an inform Ed Goddard (PBs track 28:23 and half M 62:01) is always a danger, as is Kenyan, a 60:20 and 2:09 half and marathoner a decade ago; he has recently run 29:39 for 10000m and 2:13 in the marathon. 
For the next half dozen prospects, it will come down to ‘what type of shift’ they put in this year. They include former junior WXC representative and fourth placegetter in 2025 Ciaran Rushton, three internationals Jordan Skelly (GBR), Jack Millar (GBR) and Oscar Gil (FRA), South Australian Fraser Darcy, Kurt Fryer, Isaac Shaw and Tom Davies. The next pack could comprise Lachlan Townsend, Matthew Cox, William Mison, Ethan McKenzie, Stefan Music, Joseph Ryan, Brayden Noonan, Jake Myors, Tom Middleton, Boris Blanc, Ben Graham, Edward Langdon, Anthony Morgan, Jack Maxwell, Tom March, Harm Schaap, Jack Johnston, amongst others.

Leading men:
Luke Hince (BAN) - 10km 3rd 29:03 (2025 Melb Marathon), 29:06 5th 2026 Devonport
Ed Goddard (UTN) - 10km 29:08, 10,000m 28:31, Half 62:01
Jordan Skelly (GBR) - 10km 29:41 Launceston 10
Jack Millar (GBR) - Half Marathon 65:16 March 2026
Oscar Gil (FRA) - 10km/Half Marathon 30:25/67:27
Fraser Darcy (SA) - Half M/Marathon 64:55/2:17.24
Benjamin Ngandu (KEN)- PS (2015) Half M/Marathon 60:20/2:09.18; recent 10,000m 29:39 Half M 66:19, Marathon 2:13.21
Ciaran Rushton (RCR) - World XC rep 2023, 29:41 2025 Sydney 10

WOMEN ELITE

This is an absolute thriller. Two very well credentialled athletes are Jenny Blundell and Kate Spencer. Dual Olympian, Jenny Blundell compiled a terrific road campaign in 2025, finishing on the podium in the 10km road race at Sydney 10, Launceston 10km and Gold Coast 10km. Her 33:20 in Sydney remains her PB. She was also second in the Australian XC and clocked a 73:30 half marathon time. Kate Spencer, a 2-time NSW XC champion, was brilliant on the roads in 2025 with times of 33:34 and 33:45. Inform Sutherland-based Canadian Danette Sheehan, is the threat after her 74:03 Ballarat Half Marathon. On that day Sheehan just defeated Ireland’s Nichola Sheridan, who will start in the Sydney 10. Returning from a maternity break, South Africa’s Aynslee Minnaar, who has four sub-33:30 in her career, is rounding into form. Kiwi Martina Conner (34:00) and Ireland’s Jennifer Clancy (34:28) are also in contention. The post-children journey of 33:28 (2018) pre-super shoe athlete, Lucy Wakeham (nee Starrat), will be interesting to watch after she recently ran 2:46 in the Canberra marathon. She compiled a glittering junior career including two World XC teams, World Juniors on the track and three Australian junior titles.

Leading women:
Jenny Blundell (SYU) - 33:20 2nd 2025 Sydney 10, dual Olympian at 1500m and 5000m
Kate Spencer (UTN) - 2025 two 10km road 4th Sydney 10 33:45, 3rd Launceston 33:34; 2-time NSW open XC champion 
Danette Sheehan (CAN & RCR) - 2026 Half M 74:03, Marathon 2:33.15
Nichola Sheridan (IRE & RCR) - 2026 4th Devonport 10km 34:41 & 3rd Ballarat Half 1:14.17
Jennifer Clancy (IRE & RCR) - 34:28 2025 Launceston
Breanna Golub (RCR) - 10th Zatopek 35:27, 6th 2025 Sydney10 34:23, two half Marathons 75:16 & 75:19
Martina Conner (NZL & RBH) - 34:00 10km in London
Aynslee Minnaar (RSA & RCR) - 10km 33:15 (2022), four sub-33:30 10ks; recent 16:01 5000m
Lucy Wakeham (RCR) - PB 33:28 2018 Sydney10, recent 2:46 marathon; three-time Australian junior representative
Zarah Steurbaut (Belgium) - 2025 Valencia 10km 34:41 
Rosy Cooper - Gold Coast Marathon 2025 2:45.51

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: 2025 Sydney 10 (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)

Sydney 10 Event Facts

When? Sunday 17 May 2026
Where? Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush

EVENTS/TIMETABLE
6:45 AM - 10km Elite Wheelchair
7:20 AM - 10km (Elite and sub-40 mins)
7:45 AM - 10km (40-50 mins)
8:15 AM - 10km (50 mins+)
9:10 AM - 5km (Wheelchair)
9:15 AM - 5km (NSW Championship Wave)
9:20 AM - 5km (Fun Run)
9:55 AM - 2.5km (NSW Championship Wave)
10:00 AM - 2.5km (Family Fun Run)

NSW ROAD RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS
NSW Road running championships will be held over the following distances in these ages.

2.5km – 9s - 10s, 9s - 10s Para, 11s - 12s, 11s - 12s Para, 13s (+ teams)
5km - 13s - 14s Para, 14s - 15s, 15s - 17s Para, 16s - 17s (+ teams)
10km – U20, U20 Para, Open, Open Ambulant, Open Wheelchair, Masters (from 30 in 5 year ages)

VENUE
The race runs along the iconic Olympic Boulevard and finishes inside the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre.

ENTRIES & MORE INFORMATION
https://www.nswathletics.org.au/events/337781