Record Running For Wellington This Weekend

Scoop

27-06-2025

Press Release – Gazley Volkswagen Wellington Marathon
More than 4000 runners and walkers will line up at Wellington's Sky Stadium on Sunday for the 38th Gazley Volkswagen Wellington Marathon event, and before they even line up there have been records broken.
Established in 1986, the event has been the regions premier marathon for almost three decades and is one of New Zealand's 'big four' marathons, alongside Christchurch, Rotorua and Auckland, that are certified to international standard and belong to the World Marathon Majors circuit.
In 2025 a record 26 countries will be represented, with runners coming from Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States and, of course, all ends of New Zealand.
Defending Champion Looking for NZ Title
This year's half marathon event plays host to the Athletics New Zealand half marathon championship, and favourite for line honours is the Wellington event's defending half marathon champion, Toby Gualter.
A year ago, the 24-year-old Wellingtonian broke through with his first major half marathon win when setting a race record of 1hr 05min 29secs. But just two months ago in Christchurch he ran even faster, recording the fastest time on New Zealand soil for more than 10 years with 1hr 03min 30secs. Harry Dixon (Feilding) and Eric Speakman (Wgtn) are the runners most expected to challenge, with Dixon having a best time less than a minute slower than Gualter and Speakman being runner up behind Gualter in this race last year. Recent improvers Matt Arnold (Akld), Luke Scott (PNth) and Max Taylor (Wgtn) will also be in the mix. But Gualter is the form horse, with three national titles, personal best times from 5000m to the half marathon and half marathon wins in Wellington and Christchurch in the last 12 months alone.
The race for women's honours is expected to be closer. Seven-time national champion, Lisa Cross (Akld), won this race in 2019 and despite being over 40 won the Auckland Grand Prix cross country just a week ago. But the fastest half marathoner in the field is Wellington-based Japanese runner, Kumiko Otani, who ran 1hr 13min a decade ago, was fourth in the 2024 national championship and recently clocked 1hr 18min. Also in the mix will be former national 800m champion Katherine Camp (Chch), who has a best of 1hr 16min and if she is close with a kilometre to go there are few who could finish faster.
These three favourites, however, would do well to watch out for a trio of young improvers Hannah Bartram (Chch), Caitlin Bassett (Wgtn) and Rose Dillon (Akld) who have been improving every time out.
Fast Full Marathon Likely
While the national half marathon championship takes centre stage in 2025, the full marathon distance is just as likely to see a race record.
Among half a dozen realistic contenders, two men have faster best times that the race record of 2hrs 22min 43secs set by American Dan Lowry in 2017. Former Wellington winner, Hiro Tanimoto, has a best of 2hrs 20min and 2024 Christchurch Marathon winner, Andy Good, has a best of 2hrs 21min.
Good has targeted the Wellington race specifically, and is renowned as an aggressive front runner who likes to chase fast times. Tanimoto was third in the recent Hawkes Bay Marathon and is super consistent with podium placings in every major marathon in New Zealand since moving here in 2015. But both runners will need to watch for local standouts Seamus Kane, Mark Moore, Nic Sunseri and Chris Wharam.
Wharam won this race back in 2015, while Moore was second in 2019. Sunseri has a marathon best of 2hrs 23min, so will be in the mix, but the dark horse could be 42k rookie Seamus Kane, who has been a consistent performer over the half marathon distance.
The women's full distance is likely to come down to top domestic performers Mel Aitken and Ali Campbell. Campbell (Wgtn) is returning to the full distance for the first time since 2021 when she finished third in the Auckland Marathon, while Aitken (Otago) was recently third in the national marathon champs in Rotorua.
Something for Everyone
Event Manager Michael Jacques is pleased with the calibre of racing, but say, 'The Gazley Volkswagen Wellington Marathon is a race of the people'.
The accessible nature of the event is reflected in the number of rookies, with more than 25 percent of the 4000-plus field either new runners or first timers to the Wellington event.
There are more than a few repeat offenders though. Auckland's Malcolm Gray has finished more than 350 marathons and returns for the Wellington event, while Wellington first timer Lester Smith is coming from Australia for his 215th marathon.
Other highlights include large school contingents from Otaki College and Tawa Intermediate, while Wellington's Des Young continues his streak as the only person to have run all 38 editions of the event. Other returnees include Aucklanders Garth Barfoot and Coleen Faloon, who are the eldest male and female participants at 89 and 82 years respectively.
A goal many entrants choose is to participate in support of the New Zealand Heart Foundation, which is the official charity of the Gazley Volkswagen Wellington Marathon. Their 'Have A Heart' programme provides a platform for participants to raise money for heart health research.
The 38th Gazley Volkswagen Wellington Marathon kicks off on Sunday at Sky Stadium with the Full Marathon Walk at 7:00am, followed by the Full Marathon Run at 7:30am, all Half Marathoners at 9:00am, all 10K participants at 9:30am and the Kid's Magic Mile at 9:40am. Late entries can be made on Saturday at Gazley Volkswagen, 38 Kent Terrace in Wellington. For more information see www.wellingtonmarathon.co.nz.