News & Updates

Daniel Balchin and Debbie Donald earned national titles in Christchurch Sunday morning, on what was a beautiful autumn day which saw over 4500 runners take part in the Frontunner Christchurch Marathon.

Balchin made it back-to-back national marathon titles in an almost solo run in Christchurch today. The 32 year old from Alexandra set out at 2:17:00 pace but as he reeled off the four laps of the new look Frontrunner Christchurch Marathon, Balchins paced slowed in the latter stages of the race to close out his defence of the marathon title in 2:20:31. Jono Wilkins was a distant second in 2:31:14, with Vajin Armstrong taking the national championship silver medal in 2:32:19 and Sam McCutcheon the bronze in 2:32:38.

Balchin who debuted over the marathon distance in winning the title last year in 2:15:55 was relatively happy with how it went. “Malcolm Hicks was down to race but he was sick and didn’t start. On the first lap I was lucky to have some 10k and half marathon runners which made a little bit of a pack which helped me,” said Balchin. He added that from the second lap onwards there was no assistance. “I just had to grind it out, which is what a marathon is all about. I was battling a little bit of cramp towards the end, but it wasn’t too bad.” Balchin’s next goal is the national cross country in Taupo at the end of July, a title that has eluded him.

In the women’s race, it was Debbie Donald of Masterton who won the title in 2:44:21, from Kelly Parlane, Mel Brandon and Olivia Ritchie. Donald and Parlane worked together over the first 15km with Donald holding a two second lead at half way in 1:21:53. Donald went from strength to strength as the race unfolded, eventually running an 8:34 personal best having run 2:52:55 in Perth in 2021. Parlane finished in 2:45:52 to add the silver medal to the marathon silver she won in 2015. Brandon clipped 22 seconds off her previous best in collecting the bronze medal in 2:53:00.

Earlier in the day, in a close finish Julian Oakley won the associated half marathon in 1:05:00 from Oska Inkster-Baynes 1:05:04 and Christopher Dryden 1:05:20 PB. Sarah Drought cut three minutes off her PB in winning the women’s half in 1:13:41. Annika Pfitzinger was second in 1:16:43 with personal bests to the next two Katherine camp 1:18:24 and Natalie Dryden 1:22:51.

The 10km winners were Tom Moulai 32:33 and Kiri Atkin 39:39.

Full results from the Frontrunner Christchurch Marathon can be found here.