Runners invade the Island

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The Hawaiian Airlines Waiheke Half Marathon last weekened was a runaway success.

“We were lucky to have the same fantastic running conditions as last year,” says Luke Garrier, one of the event organisers. “The weather was beautiful, people seemed to enjoy the new courses and we have received no complaints about traffic so far.”

There were 1236 entries for the event, two-thirds of them female. About 700 ran the 21km half marathon; the rest running 10km.

“About 30 percent of the runners were in their 40s,” Mr Garrier said. “We had quite a few under-18s, and seven percent were over 60, which I think is cool.”

Waiheke Resources Trust is the official charity partner of the event, but the Waiheke Pool Society will also receive funds. The pool society had 39 volunteers help with registration, baggage, marshalling and finish-line duties on the day.

The event is expected to run again next year. Hawaiian Airlines has committed to sponsoring the half-marathon and it is again scheduled for the first weekend of May.

The first three in the half-marathon, women’s category, were Freyja Prentice 1:27:47; Lucy Strack 1:32:49 and Kim Servaas 1:34:18. The male winners were Mick Keating 1:16:36; David Atkinson 1:18:36 and Richard Hellaby 1:20:47. Emma Rose Haas

Photo Credit Redstar Images 2017

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