Local Athletes Succeed in Marathon Events
Sunday’s 36th Gazley Volkswagen Wellington Marathon event sprovied plenty of opportunity for the local athletes to enjoy successes in ideal marathon conditions. Over 4000 athletes of all ages entered events across a range of events over the Marathon, Half Marathon and 10km Runs and Walk events, along with Kids Mile section. The largest number were competing in the half marathon which combined as the New Zealand Championships and also doubled as the Athletics Wellington Championships.
National titles went to Toby Gualter [Olympic] and Lisa Cross [TTT], both setting new race records by over a minute previously set by Toby in the men’s race last year and Sarah Drought for the women previously. Eric Speakman [Vic University] was 2nd in the Men’s with Mike Robinson of Gisborne third. Cross finished ahead of Katherine Camp [CAN] and Wellington leading women Beth Garland. Third place for the Wellington men’s division was Matt Croxford [Vic Uni]. In the women’s section Kumiko Otani [WHAC] and Maddy Watson [Scottish] claimed silver and bronze medals.
For the national Half Marathon club teams race Scottish claimed the Men’s title ahead of WHAC and Trentham United with Scottish and WHAC placing 2nd and 3rd in the Women’s teams race behind the Auckland based TTT club.
In the Wellington Masters section Rachel Watson [Trentham] and Ryan Woolley [Scottish] earned the Masters 35 division while in the Masters 50+ division Graeme Morrison [WHAC] and Betty Harp [Scottish] were respective winners.
The overall Men’s Marathon was won by Andy Good of Christchurch in 2:25.25 ahead of former winner Hiro Tanimoto [Scottish] and Nicholas Sunsori [Scottish]. The women’ marathon was won by former Wellington athlete Mel Aitken in a time of 2:52.50 the only women to go under the three hour mark.
In the 10km event the Men’s section was won by Under 20 athlete Max Poland of Trentham United in a smart time of 32.00 mins and the top female was Saskia Cosgrove-Drayton in a sub 36 minute time of 35:53. Young Cooper Williams was the first back in the Kids mile in a sub 5 minute time.
Summary of Top results for Athletics NZ and Athletics Wellington is Here
Full results of all Wellington Marathon Events are available Here
