Weekend Action for Wellington athletes in Marathon and Relays
The NZ Marathon Championships and the University relays were the two events of focus for Wellington middle and distance athletes over the weekend.
The longstanding University of Victoria Relays was held in warm damp weather at Queen Elizabeth Park, Paekakariki on Saturday. The main action featured the four person relay 0f 3.6km legs over some solid terrain within the Park . With almost 100 teams taking the line across all grades it was a combined team from Fielding Moa /Palmerston North that took lines honours given a great start by Harry Dixon. Wellington Scottish men took 2nd in line honours and the well performed Trentham United Under 20 men’s team placed third across the line. First women’s team across were the equally strong Olympic Under 20 team who thought off Wellington Harrier Athletic Club Under 20 team who came in ahead of the clubs senior women’ team.
Marathon successes
Meanwhile a strong showing by a number of Wellington athletes took place in Sunday’s Christchurch Re-Boot marathon and Half Marathon out outskirts of Christchurch at Tai Tapu in wet cool conditions.
Hannah Miller back from USA and now Wellington based representing Wellington Scottish took the Women’s Marathon title in personal best time of 2hr 37min 31secs. In the Mens race Nathan Tse of WHAC took bronze behind Daniel Balchin and Oska Baynes. Balchin’s time of 2.15.55 was the fastest by a kiwi in New Zealand for some 20+ years. Tse ran a personal best of 2.23.39 . Paul Hewitson [WHAC] won the masters Men’s 50+ title in 2.44.29. Andrew Kerr was 3rd in the same division in a time of 2.52.15
Esther George [WHAC] ran smart 1hr 18min 37 sec personal best to win the associated Half Marathon event while the Mens division was taken out by regular visitor to the track in Wellington Julian Oakley in very fast 63 mins 49 sec.
