MORE than 100 enthusiastic runners gathered in Whakatāne to compete in the inaugural Whakatāne Bush Half Marathon on Saturday.

The event featured three challenging distances – 5km, 10km, and 21km – providing athletes with the opportunity to race through some of the region’s most picturesque landscapes, including stunning native bush tracks.

Competitors came from near and far, with participants from Auckland, Taupō, and Gisborne joining local athletes for the event.

The half marathon route took runners from Maraetotara Road to Burma Road, weaving through lush native bush towards Ōhope and then to Whakatāne, before returning to Burma Road and finishing at the Ōhope Christian Fellowship Church.

Local athletes dominated the top spots with Liam Dooley, Max Green, Jack Murray, and Kendan Gibson neck and neck from the start, making for an exciting race.

Dooley’s strength and endurance on the final hills allowed him to break away, ultimately crossing the finish line as the outright winner with a swift time of 1.33 hours, ahead of Green in second place in 1.35hrs.

Murray and Gibson battled for the final podium spot with Gibson managing to pull ahead, rounding out the top three with a commendable time of 1.41hrs.

In the women’s division, Alie Corporal ran outstandingly to finish first in 2.12hrs, ahead of Liza Rozdestvenskaja in 2.14hrs and Lorraine Hogan in 2.20hrs.

The 10km race saw exceptional performances from Clement Le Lievre, Michael Taylor, and Levi Magee, who placed first, second and third respectively.

The women’s 10km event was a nail-biter, with Mary Engel, Charlotte Mans, and Natalie Jensen finishing within seconds of each other.

The 5km event was equally thrilling, featuring a frantic sprint finish. Oliver Ashburn narrowly edged out Reece Barrett, claiming a well-earned victory by less than a second. Rosie Milne demonstrated excellent form ahead of this year’s AIMS Games competition, securing first place in the women’s 5km, with Olivia Hatcher finishing strongly in second.

The event showcased a diverse range of talent, with experienced runners such as Chris Morrissey competing alongside athletes tackling their first half marathon.

Shared event organiser William Doney was rapt with the turnout and feedback from the day.

“This event was conceived from our community sharing that they wanted a mid-winter event similar to the Toi’s Challenge, so we are happy to be able to provide them with something breathtaking - from the views as well as from the course.”