Bigger marathon

The field for this year's Queenstown International Marathon will be increased, but the final number of competitors has yet to be confirmed.

The inaugural, sold-out event was held in November with the field capped at 6000 across several events, including a marathon, half-marathon and 10km.

Event chief executive Dave Beeche, of Auckland, said organisers had still to settle on a final number for the 2015 event, being held on November 21, but ''we will increase it from last year''.

Capacity would be determined by several factors, including ''tweaks to the course'', the transportation plan and the capacity on the Queenstown Trail network, which the course follows to a large degree.

Mr Beeche said last year waves of runners were set off at the same time, but this year's event would likely see multiple waves set off to spread competitors out.

Entries opened on December 8 and already 2000 had been received.

''It's crazy.''

Last year's weather conditions - which were, at times, atrocious, and forced the cancellation of the prizegiving ceremony on the Queenstown Rec Ground - did not seem to have put entrants off, he said.

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