AFL legend Lance Franklin and NRL great Johnathan Thurston have completed a brutal 30km selection trial in Alice Springs to qualify for the New York Marathon in November.

The sporting superstars started their gruelling run before sunrise during AFL grand final week, pushing through the challenging conditions in the heart of Australia.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Buddy and JT conquer marathon qualifier.

Marathon legend Rob De Castella was on hand to greet the pair at the finish line, marking another significant milestone in their distance running journey.

Franklin and Thurston began their partnership with distance running in July , working alongside the Indigenous Marathon Foundation to prepare for the ultimate test.

The 30-kilometre trial represents a crucial qualifying step for the

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