AUCKLAND, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Daniel Balchin and Alice Mason won the men's and women's titles apiece at the Auckland Marathon on Sunday.
Home runner Balchin from Otago won the men's title with a time of two hours 23 minutes and nine seconds. Auckland-based British runner Luke Cotter finished second, with Australian Robert Collins rounding out the podium in third.
"I'm absolutely stoked, this is one of the major marathons in the country, so it means a lot to me to be able to tick this one off," said Balchin.
Mason from Wellington added the 2023 Auckland Marathon title to the one she last won in 2020, taking the tape in a time of two hours 44 minutes and 20 seconds. Auckland athlete Amelia Lythe finished as runner-up and Whangarei's Mallory Wordell at third.
"I feel good, it was a good race I think," said Mason.
Mason welcomed her son into the world last year and has since been juggling marathon training around life as a mum, making her win at Auckland even more special.
Over 14,000 athletes hit the picturesque race course of the Auckland Marathon in wind on Sunday as the event celebrated its 32nd anniversary.
As New Zealand's largest marathon, the event once again offered participants the chance to run or walk over the Auckland Harbor Bridge and take in the best views of the city - an experience that has been an integral part of the event since its 1992 inception. ■
