TOP EFFORT: Margie Campbell, first woman home at the Mount Joggers and Walkers Half Marathon. PHOTO: GEORGE NOVAK
TOP EFFORT: Margie Campbell, first woman home at the Mount Joggers and Walkers Half Marathon. PHOTO: GEORGE NOVAK
The 31st annual Mount Joggers and Walkers Half Marathon was held in excellent conditions at Mount Maunganui on Sunday morning.
Nearly 1300 competitors took part in the popular 5km, 10km and kids races plus the featured half-marathon.
Due to a section of the slip-damaged base track of Mauao being out of action the course had to be changed, with new hill climbs adding to the challenge for runners.
Mount Maunganui's Kyle Macdonald won his third half-marathon title in 1hr 14m 10s with Garit Read second (1:16:32) and Kunaal Rajpal third (1:16:46).
Macdonald set the course record of 1:11:11 when he won in 2014 and says it was a battle on the revised course.
"I had a fair idea what the detour would be like and knew it was going to be tough in that middle section on each lap. It really slows you down and took the energy out of my legs," he said.
"But I knew what my margin was because the course backs on to itself. I am a born and bred local here in the Mount, so this is one of the top races on the calendar for me each year. I love coming back to it."
THIRD WIN: Kyle Macdonald first man home at the Mount Joggers and Walkers Half Marathon. PHOTO/George Novak
Margie Campbell won the women's title at her first attempt in 1:21:06, with Jess Walley second (1:26:42) and Malesa McNearney third (1:32:00).
Campbell is from Australia but now settled in Auckland after marrying a New Zealander.
The physiotherapist was rapt to win the event. She said she would move to the Tauranga area if there was a job available.
"I love doing these locally run events because they have so much more meaning to them in supporting them, rather than doing the big Ironman-type events that are made to make money," she said.
"These ones are made to give back to the community and to get people involved, get them exercising and give them something to aim for.
"For this event to be running for 31 years is incredible."
Event organiser Luke Garea says the event has always been held over Queen's Birthday Weekend.
"It is a great time to hold it for people who live outside Tauranga and the Mount. There are not so many events congested around it. It seems to be a good fit and the locals seem to enjoy it in the window it is in," he said.
"The encouraging thing this year is the 5k is a lot bigger than it has ever been. They all get a medal, and it has proven to be very popular."
Martin Poppelwell was the first male walker home over the half-marathon distance (2:29:16) with Penny Purcell taking out the women's race (2:18:31).
Regan Bones and Sarah Gardner won the 10km titles with Mathew Miya-Smith and Lulu Johnson first home in the 5k races.
