Two athletes with Dunedin connections blasted through the rain to win the inaugural Queenstown International Marathon on Saturday.
Palmerston North doctor James Parsons (27) exceeded his wildest dreams to win the men's section in 2hr 33min 42sec, while former New Zealand duathlon representative and Kepler Challenge winner Victoria Beck (32), now living in northern Queensland, won the women's race in 2hr 55min 20sec.
Both originally from Dunedin, the pair deserved their $3000 prize money after braving intermittent and sometimes heavy rain, along with the 6000 other entrants in the Air New Zealand-sponsored event.
Parsons was followed home by Christchurch's Dave Ridley in 2hr 37min 30sec, while Sam McCutcheon, of Wellington, came third in 2hr 41min 3sec.
In the women's race, Dunedin policewoman Mel Aitken finished second in 2hr 59min 38sec, followed by Katherine Morgan, of Christchurch, in 3hr 48sec.
Parsons won the Kinloch Offroad Challenge over the marathon distance last year but said the Queenstown event was the ''first big thing I've ever won''.
''I was aiming for top 10 maybe, but I never thought I'd beat Dave [Ridley].''
After taking the first half of the race quietly, he passed McCutcheon, who told him he was running well and had a chance of catching frontrunner Ridley. Ridley appeared to ''blow up'' at the 28km mark, and Parsons passed him on a hill at Frankton.
''I gave him a cheeky comment and tried not to breathe as I went past.
''From then I just hung on. I had to dig deep and think about the beer at the finish line.''
In contrast, Beck led the women's race almost from start to finish, and said she was ''really happy'' with her time, as she had been aiming to beat three hours.
Although the course had been promoted as flat and fast, she found it hilly around Lake Hayes and Frankton.
''I was kind of in the hurt box a little bit and had to keep pushing,'' Beck said.
''I was thinking, 'I am going to live here one day', and it is just beautiful and I tried to push through.
''Running on the trails is easier on the mind than running on asphalt, so that really helped.
''Thankfully, I knew the last 10k was going to be a bit flatter - I was hanging out for that.''
In the half-marathon, the men's winner was Adam Jaques, of Christchurch, in 1hr 16min 1sec, while Lizzie Spencer, also of Christchurch, won the women's section in 1hr 25min 48sec.
Race organiser Dave Beeche said the gravel and hard-packed trail sections, 70% of the course, stood up well in the wet conditions.
