It is a race with allure, and so every year there are top athletes at the start of the Tauranga Half. This year was no different, but in the end only two can win. In the men’s race it was Jack moody and in the women’s race Hannah Berry.
In both races the differences were small and in the men’s race there was even a sprint to win. Thanks to a half marathon that was more than three minutes faster, Jack Moody was able to pass Mike Phillips and win in a time of 3:33:33. Phillips thus finished second in 3:33:44 and Javier Gomez Noya, who also briefly led the race, finished third in 3:38:20. Gomez Noya unfortunately got disqualified after the race, because of outside assistance, and therefore third place went to Ben Hamilton (3:39:40).
An exciting battle also ensued among the women, mainly between Hannah Berry and Chelsea Sodaro. With several minutes ahead, Berry started the half marathon, but Sodaro ran nearly six minutes faster over that final 21 kilometers. Still, it was not enough to eventually take the victory. That victory went to Berry, who finished in a time of 3:58:48. Sodaro was second in 3:59:43 and Dutch Els Visser finished third in 4:03:22.
