Runners from Kenya, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the United States will battle for overall and championship honours on Sunday 1 July.

“We are thrilled to assemble a women’s marathon field of such elite quality for our special 40th edition of the Gold Coast Marathon," Events Management Queensland CEO Cameron Hart said.

“If the Gold Coast puts on its usual great conditions for running in July, then we could see the race record broken for the third consecutive year," he said.

Agness Barsosio and Ruth Chebitok will be striving to become the first Kenyan woman to win the Gold Coast Marathon in its 40-year history while Australia's female competitors will be looking to run under 2:28:00, a time never achieved by an Aussie at the event.

Australia will see Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Jess Trengove, 5,000m Games runner Celia Sullohern alongside Kirsten Molloy, Margie Campbell and Sophie Ryan line up.

Japan, who has produced 14 winners, will be well represented once again with Tokyo Marathon top 10 finisher Ayaka Fujimoto, sub 2:30 runner Miharu Shimokado and Kobe Marathon winner Mizuha Otaru.

Krystalanne Curwood and aspiring Olympian Sabina Piras from the United States will also compete.

The IAAF Oceania Area Marathon Championship is held in conjunction with the event as New Zealand hopes are led by Victoria Beck and Alice Mason.