Isaac Heyne and Bronte Oates Claim 55th Anniversary Voltaren City2Surf Titles

11 August 2025
Isaac Heyne and Bronte Oates Claim 55th Anniversary Voltaren City2Surf Titles

Adelaide’s Isaac Heyne and Sydney’s Bronte Oates have claimed top honours in the 2025 Voltaren City2Surf, conquering the 14km course from the CBD to Bondi Beach as the iconic event celebrated its 55th anniversary.

Heyne made it back-to-back City2Surf victories, defending his title in emphatic fashion as he broke away from the field just two kilometres into the race and further extending his lead up Heartbreak Hill and on the descent into Bondi.

I’m feeling pretty happy, not bad for someone from out of town. This is such a hard event, it’s a real test of fitness so to race well again and run a little bit quicker than last year, I’m really proud,” said Heyne.

“Last year was sort of in the back of my mind coming into the race today, I know I’m fitter than last year so I was pretty happy to run my own rhythm and see who matched it. Now that I know the course, I wasn’t as afraid of the undulating hills and could have the freedom to take it on a little bit,” he said.

Heyne broke the tape in 40:33, just under a minute clear of national 10km record holder Samuel Clifford with seasoned campaigner Thomas Do Canto just nine seconds behind Clifford in third.

“I didn’t sleep a wink last night, I had that little bit of expectation on myself,” said Heyne. “I knew it was possible to win, but Sam Clifford is a class athlete and he’s in the middle of a marathon block, so I knew he’d be super fit. But I just had to back myself, which isn’t easy,” he said.

Heyne’s winning time of 40:33 was 17 seconds faster than he ran last year, and just 30 seconds shy of Steve Moneghetti’s longstanding City2Surf course record time of 40:03.

This week, the chat has been course record, course record. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Mono is a class athlete, he’s still running so fast in his sixties. I don’t consider myself in the same echelon as him yet, he’s a World Championship medallist and been such a class athlete for so long, so to be 20 odd seconds away from him, I’m gobsmacked, 12-year-old Isaac would be stoked,” said Heyne.

“The win this year has probably sunk in a little bit more. When I won it last year it was almost like just another race, but when I saw the impact it had on people around me and people learning about the City2Surf, you’re never able to reflect on it in the moment but now that it’s been a year apart, I kind of go, wow, this is a huge event and it’s a real honour to win it,” he said.

In the women’s race it was a 20-year-old from Sydney who wrote her name into the history books. Bronte Oates delivered a breakout performance, improving on her third-place finish in 2024, to take the win in 45:51.

“I'm really excited to take the win. I'm still on a high, I'm really happy,” said Oates. “Being from Sydney, this race means so much. I love the course, I love running around Sydney. To be able to win an iconic race is just amazing.”

Oates surged ahead of the pack up Heartbreak Hill and ran away to the finish, taking the tape over 40 seconds clear of Caitlin Adams in second, with Ruby Smee rounding out the podium in third.

“I just wanted to try and go out to the front at the start and stay there. I know mentally, I do better when I just have no one in front of me, so that worked,” she said. “This race gives me lots of confidence. I'm excited to see what I can do next and then come back next year and see what happens. This win means everything. I'm just so excited. I wouldn't have thought it was possible a few years ago.”

Tens of thousands of runners are taking on the 55th anniversary City2Surf and will continue to cross the finish line on Bondi Beach until 2pm this afternoon. 

2025 Voltaren City2Surf – Men’s Results

  1. Isaac Heyne – 40:33
  2. Samuel Clifford – 41:24
  3. Thomas Do Canto – 41:33
  4. James Nipperess – 41:45
  5. Michael Roeger – 41:52
  6. William Tucker – 41:57
  7. Leo Peterson – 42:08
  8. Ed Goddard – 42:30
  9. Will Mison – 43:24
  10. Paxton Smith – 43:33

2025 Voltaren City2Surf – Women’s Results

  1. Bronte Oates – 45:51
  2. Caitlin Adams – 46:34
  3. Ruby Smee – 46:59
  4. Jenny Blundell – 47:56
  5. Brigid Dennehy – 48:52
  6. Madeleine Donkin – 48:57
  7. Christina Du – 49:03
  8. Kate Spencer – 49:08
  9. Nestor Chan – 49:10
  10. Georgia Winkcup – 49:38