Michael Voss finishes in a Whangnaui 3 Bridges marathon record time of 2:27:26.
Michael Voss finishes in a Whangnaui 3 Bridges marathon record time of 2:27:26.
The Whanganui 3 Bridges marathon record has been smashed, with event organisers overjoyed by the day’s success.
Rotorua man Michael Voss finished his marathon on Sunday in a time of 2 hours, 27 minutes and 26 seconds - ousting the previous record set by Matthew Moloney in 2020, of 2:36:57.
As the rain swept across Whanganui on Saturday, the subsequent day was forecast to be hot and humid.
Whanganui 3 Bridges marathoners start. Michael Voss (65) won in a record time. Anthony Wood (25) came second, while Whanganui's Luke Watts (30) took third. Photo / Peter Jones
That would prove to be the case, particularly for the half-marathoners who ran through the middle of the morning.
“Definitely we were a little bit nervous,” he said.
“I was really hoping we didn’t lose our consistent people.”
Some of the regular runners are part of the 100 Marathon Club NZ, and Conder said upon completion of Sunday’s marathon, a new member had joined the ranks.
The marathoners ran four laps of a course set along the Dublin St Bridge, Whanganui City Bridge and Cobham Bridge.
Half-marathoners did two of those laps, and all competitors finished on Taupō Quay alongside Pākaitore-Moutoa Gardens.
Other races included the full and half marathon walks, the quarter marathon run and walk, the 5-kilometre run and walk, and the kids’ 1.2km dash. There were also 20km relays for walking and running.
Volunteers were placed all along the course, giving out water and helping guide runners and walkers around the circuit.
Conder was grateful for the support the race received.
Some of the brightly dressed walkers get going. Photo / Peter Jones
“A big thank you to all our sponsors and all the volunteers, because it just wouldn’t happen without them.”
Despite the heat, there were only a few injuries to report.
Voss finished the marathon with a significant gap to runner-up Anthony Wood (2:45:14), who had flown over from Australia to attempt to get a qualifying time for future races.
Whanganui runner Luke Watts was in third (2:48:33).
The half marathon was won by Alvirg Busa out of Wellington in a time of 1:19:15, with Whanganui’s Glenn Haden in second and Campbell MacDonald in third.
Lucy Oliver from Whanganui was the top woman in the half marathon, sneaking under the coveted 90-minute mark to get a time of 1:29:34.
Emma O’Rourke from New Plymouth was the fastest woman in the marathon, finishing with a time of 3:45:05.
