Marathon runners praised as 'absolute stars'

Marathon winner James Parsons crosses the finish line.
Marathon winner James Parsons crosses the finish line.

Organisers of the sold-out inaugural Air New Zealand Queenstown International Marathon have praised competitors for braving at-times atrocious conditions yesterday.

"You were all absolute stars in the rain," organisers Lagardere Unlimited said in a mass email to almost 6000 runners and walkers.

Conditions were so bad that the prizegiving ceremony at the Queenstown Recreation Ground was cancelled.

Marathon runners in particular who spent more than four hours on the course were hit by torrential rain and conditions that made some of the course muddy and slippery and appeared to induce the odd case of hypothermia.

Competitors, however, generally seemed very happy with the organisation of the race, despite some grizzles that the course, which traversed mainly trails from Arrowtown to Queenstown, was a little hillier that they'd anticipated.

Although the event was promoted as a destination marathon, there was keen competition at the head of the marathon, half-marathon and 10km runs.
James Parsons, 27, originally from Dunedin, beat Dave Ridley, of Christchurch, by four minutes to take out the marathon in 2hr 33min 43sec.

Victoria Beck, 32, of Dunedin, won the women's marathon in 2:55.21sec, four minutes from Mel Aitken, also of Dunedin.

Adam Jacques, of Christchurch, won the men's half-marathon in 1:16.01sec and Lizzie Spencer, also of Christchurch, won the women's half in 1:25.48sec.

Celebrity chef Josh Emett finished the marathon in 4:06 and Tourism NZ chief executive Kevin Bowler, who had the idea for the event, finished his first marathon in 4:20.

Organisers are today presenting the Queenstown Trail Trust with a cheque for $27.966.81 to go towards future tail maintenance and development.

"To see 6000 competitors doing their best on the course which included a significant portion on the Queenstown Trail was brilliant with the outstanding beauty of our trails and region truly on show," trust CEO Mandy Kennedy says.

Event CEO Dave Beeche is also thrilled with the first marathon.

"We have hit year five targets in year one, such was the demand to be a part of what we know will become an iconic marathon event on the world calendar - NZ can be so proud of this stunning location.

"Conditions early in the day were perfect for running if not for spectators and the feedback about the course is as we expected - people just loved running in this amazing part of the world on beautifully prepared off-road trails."

Yesterday's unsung heroes, however, were the 300-plus volunteers, many of whom spent hours on aid station and traffic marshalling duties in some of the worst November weather the resort's endured.

- Philip Chandler

 

 

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