Athletics New Zealand – Half Marathon Titles to Harris and Gibbs

Harris (26), formerly of Wellington but recently moved to Auckland, took his first New Zealand title after a stern challenge from Daniel Balchin from Christchurch and Rowan Hooper from Wellington. The runners had to contend with a cool, fresh southerly on the waterfront course starting and finishing at the Westpac Stadium, running out past Oriental and Evens Bays to Shelley Bay and back.

Gibbs added the half marathon title to the full marathon championship that she won in Rotorua seven weeks earlier. The 51 year old Katikati runner lead a clean sweep for masters runners in the race heading in Wellingtonians Katie Kemp (38) and Gabrielle O'Rourke (47).

Results

Men: 1 Matt Harris (Auckland CA) 1:08:32, 2 Daniel Balchin (New Brighton Olympic) 1:08:36, 3 Rowan Hooper (Wellington Scottish) 1:08:48, 4 Jono Jackson (Auckland CA) 1:08:53, 5 Chris Sanson (Palmerston North) 1:09:52.

Women:1 Sally Gibbs (Tauranga) 1:18:50, 2 Katie Kemp (Wellington Scottish) 1:19:07, 3 Gabby O'Rourke (Wellington HAC) 1:21:27, 4 Tina Harris (Wellington Scottish) 1:22:00, 5 Lisa Robertson (Pakuranga) 1:22.38.

Full New Zealand Half Marathon Championships results (Individual & Team)