Daniel Balchin and Alice Mason Claim 2023 Auckland Marathon Titles

Otago’s Daniel Balchin and Wellington’s Alice Mason have claimed the 2023 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Marathon titles as New Zealand’s largest running event returned to the streets of Tāmaki Makaurau today.

 Balchin secured his first Auckland Marathon title in 2:23:09, adding his name to the illustrious list of winners. 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 marathon’s in the country, so it means a lot to me to be able to tick this one off,” said Balchin.

 “Over the first half of the race there were about three of us and we went through the halfway mark at about 2:22 pace which was about right. Then out along Tamaki Drive we were running into a bit of a headwind so that was quite a tough part of the course and that’s where the pack we were in kind of split up, and then at the turnaround I was my own and I just had to hang on for the finish. I was able to get a bit of a gap so it was quite nice having a gap and not having to sprint for the finish.”

 Today’s Auckland Marathon victory is even sweeter for Balchin after finishing second last year in a close finish, with the Otago athlete determined to go one better in 2023.

“This is a bit of unfinished business for me, it was really nice to be able to tick this one off especially after I came in second place last year. So yeah, absolutely stoked.

“I’ve really just started my marathon journey, it’s my second year doing marathons so being able to get my name on the biggest marathon in the country is really awesome, so absolutely stoked with that,” he said.

While there was a new men’s Auckland Marathon champion crowned, a familiar face in Wellington’s Alice Mason took out the women’s title.

Mason adds the 2023 Auckland Marathon title to the one she last won in 2020, taking the tape in a time of 02:44:20. Auckland athlete Amelia Lythe finished as runner-up and Whangārei’s Mallory Wordell third.

“I feel good, it was a good race I think,” said Mason. “It was windy at the start line so I thought I’d just go out quite conservatively and I was just trying to stick with the other ladies and not make the pace or do too much work, but I think maybe five k in there were some guys who were going out a bit faster so I think I got a bit of a gap at that point and just committed. Then just as we were hitting the wind I ended up by myself which isn’t what I wanted but I reckon out to St Heliers wasn’t as bad as I expected and I felt good along there.”

Mason welcomed her son into the world last year and has since been juggling marathon training around life as a mum, making her win today even more special.

“It’s pretty cool, it’s a different ball game. We were up all night last night and training is quite different but I guess it puts it all in perspective and things don’t matter as much, he doesn’t really care how I do, it’s still cool to be able to do it but I think it maybe shifts the perspective a bit which is probably healthy,” she said.

“It’s very special, it’s cool to hopefully one day be able to show him that we did this. It’s also a testament to Andrew my other half, of us just making the juggle to make it work and being able to get out and train, so it’s pretty special for all of us.”

A new course record was set in the men’s Garmin Half Marathon, with Australian Tim Vincent setting a blistering early pace to break away from a strong field to capture his first title on foreign soil.

“The win means a fair bit actually. It’s my first win away from Australia which is pretty cool because I’ve been running for 15 years now and I’ve never done that before, so it’s a little milestone for myself and great to see so many people out here having a fun morning,” said Vincent.

“I’m feeling pretty tired, it was a good morning and very quality field. I’m from Brisbane, Australia, so I kind of knew I’d be up against some pretty tough local competition here and very happy to get the win.

“We actually went pretty hard, pretty early. I’d done my reconnaissance and research so I knew the guys in the field and their strengths were probably going to beat me in the last few kilometres, so I knew I had to go pretty hard early and get a break which I did, probably around eight k and then had to stick it out over the last 13k myself and I’m just happy to get the job done,” he said.

Vincent finished the 21.1 kilometres in 1:04:37, lowering the previous course record by nearly a minute. The Queenslander edged out last year’s winner Julian Oakley (Tauranga), and 2021 Auckland Half Marathon winner Michael Voss (Rotorua).

“I ran pretty hard today so it’s nice to come away with the course record. There’s some big name runners that have done this race before so yeah, very honoured if it is a record but more importantly just happy to get the win,” said Vincent.

The women’s half marathon was won by Aucklander Lisa Cross in 1:16:32. Cross is no stranger to the top step of the podium at this event, adding her third half marathon title to her two Auckland Marathon titles.

“It was surprisingly easy, I thought the wind would be really nasty, but it was good,” said Cross. “I like the Auckland course, it’s home. It’s always great to win a home run, something I’ve done before, it’s nice to back it up.

“I didn’t really have a plan, it was just to run. I had a bit of a cold at the beginning of the week and I do have knee issues. I kept looking at my watch thinking I was going too fast but I was comfortable so I thought I’d just keep going,” she said.

2023 BARFOOT & THOMPSON AUCKLAND MARATHON – RESULTS

BARFOOT & THOMPSON MARATHON – MEN

1. Daniel Balchin (Alexandra, NZL) – 02:23:09
2. Luke Cotter (Auckland, GBR) – 02:25:41
3. Robert Collins (Brisbane, AUS) – 02:25:48
4. Rodwyn Isaacs (Auckland, NZL) – 02:29:37
5. Anthony Ng (Auckland, NZL) – 02:31:49

BARFOOT & THOMPSON MARATHON – WOMEN

1. Alice Mason (Wellington, NZL) – 02:44:20
2. Amelia Lythe (Auckland, NZL) – 02:50:51
3. Mallory Wordell (Whangārei, NZL) – 02:53:33
4. Margie Campbell (Dunedin, NZL) – 02:57:52
5. Emily Roughan (New Plymouth, NZL) – 02:58:54

GARMIN HALF MARATHON – MEN

1. Tim Vincent (Brisbane, AUS) – 01:04:37
2. Julian Oakley (Tauranga, GBR) – 01:05:16
3. Michael Voss (Rotorua, AUS) – 01:07:07
4. Jacob Priddey (Hamilton, NZL) – 01:07:23
5. Jack Moody (Auckland, NZL) – 01:07:33

GARMIN HALF MARATHON – WOMEN

1. Lisa Cross (Auckland, NZL) – 01:16:32
2. Rosie Weber-Kearns (Sydney, AUS) – 01:17:52
3. Kerry White (Auckland, NZL) – 01:22:10
4. Karen Donaldson-Barron (Auckland, NZL) – 01:22:26
5. Claire Lachurie (Auckland, NZL) – 01:22:36

Full results will be available via the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Marathon website: https://aucklandmarathon.co.nz