SYDNEY 10 Review: Luke Hince unstoppable as Kate Spencer claims fifth winter title

17 May 2026

SYDNEY 10 Review: Luke Hince unstoppable as Kate Spencer claims fifth winter title

Perfect conditions greeted the 2500 athletes on Sunday morning at the 18th Sydney 10 race around Sydney Olympic Park. The race also incorporated the 85th NSW Road Running Championships, first held in 1927.

MEN
Jembla Jogger's Luke Hince is establishing himself as one of the best road runners in Australia with another consistent performance of 29:10 to win the men’s Sydney 10. The time follows performances of 29:03 in Melbourne and 29:06 in Devonport. With the race record at 28:55, his goal was obvious.
“I wanted to give the course record a bit of a nudge today,” Hince said.

Hine went after it from the gun, building up an early lead. Around the 3km into the race Ed Goddard (UTN) closed the gap on Hince, but by the halfway mark, Hince was again solo in the lead, with a five second gap on Goddard. From there, Hince just ran away with the race to win the title by 18 seconds.  
“Today I wanted to thin out the field early. Last year, I was swamped in the last kilometre and it didn't end up well.”
Are three consistent low 29-minute times, the next level awaits Hince.
“I’ll hopefully get a breakthrough pretty soon. I'd love to run under 29 one day.“

Second place getter Ed Goddard clocked 29:28 minutes, just outside his course PB of 29:22 he clocked in the 2023 and 2024 races. He is just coming off two 66-minute half-marathons in the last four weeks. His focus is now the marathon.
“It was not a bad way to sort of kick off the shorter racing season,” Goddard commented.

Third was Britian's Jordan Skelly (29:59), with Wollongong-based Kenyan Benjamin Ngandu fourth (30:05).

WOMEN
The women’s race was a close contest with just 10 seconds separating the podium finishers. From the gun, the inform 2-time NSW Distance runner of the year, Run Crew’s Danette Sheehan took up the running early, but Kate Spencer (UTS Norths) was in toe, while Abi Nordberg (Run Crew), Kiwi Martina Conner (RBH) and Irish athlete Nichola Sheridan (Run Crew) were together in third.

During the race there would be patches where Sheehan was solo, while Spencer a few metres behind had a pack around her. 
“I tend to kind of get off the line quick, and I think it's been one of the things I've sort of been working on, and while I felt like I did a better job of that today, probably strategy wise, I got off a little bit too fast. So, you know, you can be older and still learning I guess,” reflected Sheehan.

By the halfway mark, Spencer and Sheehan were together, but by around the 8km mark, Spencer had eased into a comfortable lead, which she maintained to the line to win in 33:24, six seconds ahead of Sheehan with 33:30. Running a strong race throughout was Sydney-based Irish athlete Nichola Sheridan clocking 33:34.
“I’m really happy,” said Kate Spencer. “I've been a little bit sick this past week, so wondered how it would go, but training's been going well, so yeah, I know I was in good shape.”

Spencer usually starts conservatively. 
“I just thought I'd get the first 5K done, keep it comfy, and then see how the second lap goes. Last year I got to 6km to go, and I was like, oh, this is getting really hard. 
After four State cross country titles, this is Spencer’s first on the road.

Overall, Sydney-based Canadian Danette Sheehan was very pleased with her result. 
“You know, that race time is only about 13 seconds off my college PB, so, you know, coming into 40, that's kind of cool. I knew that time was there, I got a bit unlucky with the kids being sick; so you know you're just dodging germs and whatnot. 
“So I think with that and just getting off a little bit too eager, I'm pretty happy with the time. I think I can balance most of the other things out,” said Sheehan.

Since returning to running after a decade plus break, Sheehan has continued to make tremendous progress.
“You know, after a 14 year gap I’ve come back to the sport and now enjoy it and focus on it in a way that maybe I had lost when I was younger, where I just got very engrossed in it (athletics). There's obviously so many distractions with kids and adult life now, that running is no longer the only focus, which puts it in a fantastic position to just love it.”

In third, relatively unknown Nicola Sheridan was a genuine title threat. Already this year we had seen Sheridan place third in the Ballarat Half (74:17) and fourth in the Devonport 10km (34:41). The Primary school teacher only arrived in Australia in December and started training with Run Crew in January. 
“I've been training pretty well, I'm staying injury free and to be honest, I'm just loving it. So, I think when you're loving it everything just clicks,” said Sheridan.

She is also loving the weather.
“We've had a great few months with very little rain and in Ireland there's been constant rain so I'm very lucky in that aspect. Whatever the weather I’d still get out and do the training but it's a lot easier when it's sunny.”

She is also enjoying training with Run Crew.
“I'm from a County Meath (in Ireland) and I’ve always trained alone which I’m happy enough to do, that as I just love running so I don't really mind that, but now training with Run Crew I realise, oh my goodness, how much I have been doing on my own.
“Now, I very rarely train alone, and I find it really, really supportive, and it’s just so relaxing running with a group. You just don't have to think. You switch off and the community, the support is amazing. I really, really love it.”

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Luke Hince and Ed Goddard (courtesy of David Tarbotton)

MEN RESULTS
1 Luke Hince (KEJ) 29:10
2 Ed Goddard (UTN) 29:28
3 Jordan Skelly (QLD, GBR) 29:59
4 Benjamin Ngandu (KEJ, KEN) 30:04
5 Jack Millar (GBR) 30:09
6 Isaac Shaw (BNK) 30:21
7 Tom March (RCR) 30:31
8 Cristiano Carvalho (SGD) 30:33    
9 Stefan Music (RBH) 30:34    
10 Steven Chung ( 30:35
11 Harm Schaap (BNK) 30:39
12 Lachlan Townsend (SYU) 30:41
13 Nathaniel Brisbane (KEJ) 30:50
14 Fraser Darcy (SA) 30:51
15 Matthew Cox (RCR) 30:53

WOMEN RESULTS
1 Kate Spencer (UTN) 33:24
2 Danette Sheehan (RCR, CAN) 33:30
3 Nichola Sheridan (RCR, IRE) 33:34
4 Martina Conner (RBH, NZL) 34:01
5 Abigail Nordberg (RCR) 34:20
6 Lauren Reid (DRP) 34:32
7 Breanna Gokub (RCR) 34:35
8 Aynslee Van Graan (RCR, RAS) 34:48
9 Zarah Steurbaut (BEL) 34:57
10 Kirsty Beattie (ACT) 35:42
11 Georgina Beck 35:57
12 Ellie Sanford (VIC) 36:04
13 Jenny Blundell (SYU) 36:08
14 Olivia O'Kelly (RCR) 36:09
15 Angela Jebb (RCR)36:09