Sydney/NSW Half Marathon: Run Crew double - Abi Nordberg and Tom Do Canto

13 September 2026

Sydney/NSW Half Marathon: Run Crew double - Abi Nordberg and Tom Do Canto

Run Crew club had dominated the 2026 Sydney Half Marathon, winning the men’s and women’s NSW Half Marathon titles as a record nearly 3000 athletes competed across three events at Sydney Olympic Park today. In perfect conditions, NSW’s premier road runner, Tom Do Canto won the men’s race, while clubmate Abi Nordberg the women’s.

Over 2000 lined up in the half marathon, while the 10km and 2.5km family fun run were well supported.

MEN - HALF MARATHON

Two weeks after his 2:15 run in the Sydney Marathon, Run Crew’s Tom Do Canto was back on the roads racing the 36th NSW Half Marathon Championships, and winning comfortably by 86 seconds in a time of 66:08.

“I’m feeling okay about that today,” Do Canto said.

“I would love that pace to feel a bit easier, but I can't complain, considering its two weeks since Sydney (Marathon).”

“The goal was just to feel, really easy and controlled in the first half, and then just if I felt good, I would pick it up. So that's what I did.”

Despite Do Canto intensions to run comfortably, 100m after the gun, he had already broken away from the field. It was not long before he was joined by equal race favourite Benjamin Ngandu, however he would withdraw late on the first lap with an ongoing hip issue.

Winning the silver medal was the relatively unknown Cameron Merrick (Hornsby club). A former footballer (soccer), who dabbled in running a little during COVID, has returned seriously in 2024. In 2025 he ran marathon times of 2:21.53 and 2:23.49 ahead of setting a half marathon PB of 67.52 on the Gold Coast in July this year. Today he sliced 10 seconds from his lifetime best clocking 67:42.

The bronze medal went to Sydney Uni’s Lachie Townsend, who ran 67:50, a little over two minutes outside his PB.

A regular supporter of NSW Athletics championships on the road, track and over cross country, Do Canto enjoyed today’s event.

“It was a really good atmosphere out there particularly on the last lap - all the cheers you get, it's pretty good.”

Do Canto, who this year turned 40 is at an exciting period of his running career.

He next races the Melbourne Marathon (October 11) and it will be his fourth marathon in 10 months. The first was last December in Valencia where he ran his marathon PB of 2:11.14.

How has his recovery from Sydney been going?

“Pretty good, to be honest. I've run Sydney four years in a row, and this year is the second best I've pulled up. Last year I pulled up extremely well. This year was not as well, but considering, my mileage leading into it wasn't as high, I wasn't expecting to pull up well. But probably a bit better than I expected, hence, I waited a couple of days to see how I felt, and that's when I entered Melbourne, just to see just how sore I was and made sure I wasn't broken and I was like, "I think I can pull it off.”

Does he have a plan for Melbourne?

“I think I can actually get into PB shape, because my trajectory going into Sydney was idea. The last month things started to really go well, but it was a bit too little too late and so I was a bit frustrated that I hadn't had quite long enough to get into my best shape. But I feel pulling up well from Sydney, another maybe three weeks of solid training, and then another taper, I'll be able to get back into, hopefully sub-2.11 shape come Melbourne.”

WOMEN - HALF MARATHON

Women’s race favourite, Abi Nordberg (Run Crew), was away to a decisive margin of 19 seconds by 5km. Through the race she gradually increased her gap on the field, up to a minute by 15km, then accelerated to two minutes at the finish as she clocked 75:16.

Was she pleased with her performance?

“The effort yes, but not the time,” remarked Nordberg.

“I was hoping I could break 74 but tightened up throughout but overall a good days effort.”

After an incredible performance in July, Nordberg has not had the ideal lead-up to today’s race.

“I haven’t done a lot of work since Gold Coast (marathon PB 2:30.22) after dealing with some niggles so just needed a good hit out to get ready for Melbourne Marathon in a month.”

Despite a massive 2000 athletes in the half-marathon today, there were patches were Nordberg was running solo.

“I had a good pack for the first lap but disconnected from them going through the stadium around the corners. Another pack caught me so worked with them for a bit but majority of the race was solo, so just tried to commit mentally and make sure I put in a solid effort.”

Nordberg also appreciated the atmosphere on course.

“It’s great to have local races such as road championships to prep for upcoming events and there was good support out on the course.”

Early on Jennifer Clancy (Run Crew) had established herself a clear second and by 5km had an incredible one-minute gap on the battle for the bronze medal. Sydney-based Irish athlete Clancy ran on for a terrific silver medal in a time of 77:19. 

In the intriguing battle for the bronze medal there were three athletes in the mix. They included Run Crew’s Sophie Chudley, a mature-aged athlete who has set PBs of 76:29 (half) and 2:41.54 (marathon) this year. Joining her were another Sydney-based Irish middle-distance runner Amy Jackson (Randwick-Botany) with 17:30 5km credentials and prominent dietitian Grace Liebelt (Victorian) who has an 82:00-minute PB. Sophie Chudley gradually built up a gap over the other pair, by 12 seconds at 10km, then 21 seconds at 15km. She really accelerated over the last 6km, to comfortable take the bronze medal by nearly a minute in 78:50, from Amy Jackson (79:57) and in a two-minute PB Grace Liebelt with 80:00 minutes.

WOMEN WHEELCHAIR - HALF MARATHON

Competing solo in the women’s wheelchair half-marathon was Sydney Uni’s Sarah Clifton-Bligh. The reigning champion was pleased with her one-minute PB time of 1:36.50.

“My goal was, not to crash, have fun, and try and set a PB.”

Clifton-Bligh has primarily represented Australia in para-athletics competition on the track in sprints or in the field, but she is keen to compete more on the road.

“I'm doing a half marathon in Japan in November, so this was training for that. I like the road - it's a lot of fun. It's, in some ways, a little bit more interesting than track, where you just go round and round in circles.”

Road training can be a little more challenging, but Clifton-Bligh has a good venue to train at - Centennial Park. She combines her competition, training with her first-year studies in a Bachelor of Arts degree in Ancient History and Linguistics at Sydney Uni.

David Tarbotton for NSW Athletics

Image: Tom Do Canto (courtesy of David Tarbotton)