Nicola Wilson, left and Leina Kaelin of Te Awamutu.
Lane Madsen vowed last year that he would return to the Waipā Fun Run to complete a trifecta – but illness nearly derailed the plan.
Chester Cueto of Te Awamutu competed for the Inghams team and came appropriately dressed as a chicken. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The 26‑year‑old had sworn after winning his second title in Cambridge that he would be back for a third in Sunday’s running of the event. That was the plan, until he became “really sick” during the week and decided not to enter.
On Sunday morning, however, he woke up feeling better, looked out the window and thought: “Surely I can win in conditions like this.”
He not only won – he also blitzed the field, running the 10km in 32 minutes, two seconds, more than a minute faster than his winning time last year.
Madsen also claimed family bragging rights, beating younger brother Josh, 24, by exactly two minutes. Jake Wilkinson was third in 34m12s.
Number one again, Lane Madsen of Maungatautari leads the 10km field home for the third time. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Leo Martens-Stockdale of Ōhaupō, right, leads Marcus Wilson of Cambridge home in the 5km race.
Tauwhare’s Michelle Walen won the women’s 10km race for the second time in 38m52s
Mat Langlands, of Pukemoremore, and Hamilton’s Rowan Torckler (née Baird) took out the five‑kilometre titles. For Torckler, it was a case of rolling back the years. She was a national middle‑distance champion before going on to have four children.
A record 716 competitors. including 190 late entries, registered for the event which was first held in 2012.
Cooler early‑morning temperatures during the 10km and 5km races provided ideal conditions for runners and walkers.
Cambridge’s Devon Rogers completed the five kilometres in 29m51 using a running blade prosthetic. His running foot was taped up for the event.
Rogers had his left leg amputated above the knee following a motor accident in 2010. He has gone on to compete in a number of sports, most notably paracycling.
Ryan McGowan of Ōhaupō finishes 14th in the 10km run. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
It was the opportunity to further his Paralympic cycling chances that brought him to Cambridge from Auckland. He now owns and operates Harrison Flooring with his wife, Katherine.
“I’ve always been really positive,” he said of the challenges he has faced since the accident. He has a supportive prosthetic manufacturer who likes nothing more than seeing him arrive with a broken prosthetic – a sign he has been physically active.
Kerin Buttimore is a regular competitor at the Waipā Fun Run in Cambridge, and Sunday marked his first as an 80‑year‑old.
“I wondered where all the fitness has gone,” he told The News after completing the course in what he described as a “shuffling” one hour, 24 minutes and six seconds.
“Someone was scoffing with me because they say they can always hear me coming,” the former Cambridge resident said.
There was a standing ovation for the Cambridge Volunteer Fire Brigade members who ran in full fire-fighting gear.
The event ran smoothly under the stewardship of Donna Warwick. The St Peter’s Catholic School office manager has been involved since the inaugural run 14 years ago, when it was established to align with the school’s “healthy mind, healthy body” philosophy, and continues to play a central role as co‑ordinator.
Only two editions have been cancelled – in 2014, when a cyclone hit, and in 2022 during the dregs of the Covid‑19 pandemic. Two years ago, heavy rain marred the day, and though 691 competitors registered only 558 finished.
This year organisers will donate $1 for every race entry to Cambridge Lifeskills, a not‑for‑profit agency that offers free counselling for children and young people aged five to 15 in the Cambridge district.
Results:
10kms – Lane Madsen 32:02 1, Josh Madsen 34:02 2, Jake Wilkinson 34:12 3, Keegan Williams 36:20 4, Hagon Rouse 38:20 5, Michelle Waylen 38:52 6, Tim Doyle 39:18 7, Josh Nyika 39:49 8, Rui Farrant 39:52 9, Angela Hancock 40:46 10.
5kms – Mat Langlands 17:30 1, Flynn Jenkins 18:06 2, Rowan Torckler 18:32 3, Joshua Arthur 18:43 4, Siddarth Manuvimal 19:01 5, Riley Jenkins 19:02 6, Joshua Barclay 19:37 7, Freddie Quinn 19:50 8, Garth Forsythe 20:01 9, Bryony Botha 20:31 10.
2kms School Challenge (Year 7 and 8) – Charlotte Bell 7:15 1, Katie Trollope 7:15 2, Jack Jordan 7:32 3, Lockie Galloway 7:54 4, Sam Wood Male 8:11 5, Brinley Brough 8:17 6, Alistair 8:21 7, Tate Williams 8:26 8, Mason Hawkins 8:41 9, Charlie Waddell 8:43 10.
2kms School Challenge (Year 5 and 6) – Mac Moore 7:02 1, Luka Thompson 7:02 2, Charli Greenhalgh 7:30 3, Austin Miers 7:43 4, Aidan Gibbs 8:02 5, Felix Faria 8:06 6, Dylan Wadsley 8:09 7, Connor Coertzen 8:09 8, Cruden Cummings 8:11 9, Kaden Smith 8:11 10.
2kms School Challenge (Year 3 and 4) – Jack Greenhalgh 7:56 1, Connor Waddell 8:21 2, Quinn Bolton 8:33 3, Grey Phillips 8:35 4, Zach Mourits 8:37 5, Thea Baggaley 8:46 6, Riekert Veldsman 9:08 7, Blake Morton 9:14 8, Piper Bourke 9:39 9, George Forrest 9:40 10.
Team Event – Whitehall Fruitpackers 1, Ahua Studio 2, Cambridge Vets 3, Four Flying Piglets 4, Doyle Accountants 5, Expert Ease Ltd 6, Innerscape 7, Cambridge Volunteer Fire Brigade 8, Rolling Cones 9.
Nicola Wilson, left and Leina Kaelin of Te Awamutu. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
