Cree and Iwasa Win Wellington Marathon

By mitchpa on August 21, 2023 • ( 4 )

Article by Clay Shaw
Photography by Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell

Wellington, New Zealand, June 24, 2023—Ingrid Cree of Wellington won the Gazley Volkswagen Wellington Marathon by 14 minutes and broke the existing women’s record by 17 seconds. Cree won in 2:48:19 on a beautiful day for racing. Gabriella Diver of Auckland was second in 3:03:55. Angela Hancock of Cambridge, NZ was third in 3:08:41.

Kaito Iwasa of Japan won in 2:28:20, over two local guys. Dougal Thorburn was second in 2:29:06, and David Haunschmidt was third in 2:30:54. Both are from Wellington.

373 marathoners finished, as 3500 runners and walkers participated in the half-marathon and a large 10k field. 23 different countries were represented in the races.

For myself, it was the last epic location that I will likely do a marathon. My finish was my 210th lifetime marathon, spanning at least one a year from 1979 to 2023. It was my seventh continent, having previously run six, including Antarctica (1997).

Course records were set in the half-marathon as well, as the weather was ideal. I heard horror stories about previous years about heavy rain and cold wind whipping water from the bay onto the course.

Sarah Drought of Wellington, who represented NZ at the Bathurst World XC earlier in 2023, won in 1:15:44. Esther George of Wellington was second in 1:18:03. Deb Fuller of Tauranga was third in 1:19:31.

Michael Voss of Rotorua won the half 1:06:21, setting a men’s record. Daniel Balchin of Alexandra was second in 1:07:42. Cullern Thorby of Taupo was third in 1:08:35.

Kudos to Mike Stewart of Lower Hutt, age 71 (same as me), who completed his 608th marathon in 5:52:11. Keep on marathoning, Mike !

In the evening we had a lovely dinner with Kathrine Switzer and Roger Robinson who make their part-time home in Wellington, as well as one in New York State. Both legendary athletes won their age groups in the Wellington Marathon’s 10k.

Top Women Marathoners

2:48:19 Ingrid Cree, Wellington, NZ
3:03:55 Gabriella Diver, Auckland, NZ
3:08:41 Angela Hancock, Cambridge, NZ
3:22:54 Natasha Richards
3:24:22 Emily Marfell

Top Men Marathoners

2:28:20 Kaito Iwasa, Japan
2:29:06 Dougal Thorburn, Wellington, NZ
2:30:54 David Haunschmidt, Wellington, NZ
2:33:31 Arnaud Betems, France
2:37:10 Benoit Valadier, French Polynesia

Top Women Half Marathoners

1:15:44 Sarah Drought, Wellington, NZ
1:18:03 Esther George, Wellington, NZ
1:19:31 Deb Fuller, Tuauranga, NZ
1:21:13 Deborah Lynch
1:21:59 Mel Brandon

Top Men Half Marathoners

1:06:21 Michael Voss, Rotorua, NZ
1:07:42 Daniel Balchin, Alexandria, NZ
1:08:35 Cullern Thorby, Taupo, NZ
1:09:01 Jayden Kuijers, Auckland, NZ
1:10:19 Naoto Akiba, Japan

Sarah Drought of Wellington represented New Zealand in the World XC in Bathurst, Australia in February. She set a new course record of 1:15:44 in her victory at the Wellington Half-Marathon.

NOTE: If you’re wondering whether to choose the Wellington Marathon for the continent of Oceania, please check out these photos to see what the marathon and the city are like. Easy choice, as both (the marathon and the city of Wellington) are wonderful.