Course Records Tumble as Jack Moody and Bara Styblova Win 2025 Queenstown Marathon Titles

First time champions have claimed the 2025 New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty Queenstown Marathon Presented by ASICS titles, with both runners making their decisive move late in the race.

Auckland-based professional triathlete Jack Moody broke the tape in 2:25:02, posting a new men’s course record by more than a minute. Timothy Jorgensen finished second over four minutes behind, with Blair Mcwhirter rounding out the podium in 2:32:10.

“I’m relived there wasn’t a bike or swim beforehand,” said Moody. “I haven’t run a pure marathon since I was about 21 years old so to just get out there and enjoy running is awesome. It’s been a tough year, so it’s really cool. What a course to go and do it on, great atmosphere, it’s a pretty special event. 

“I just wanted to treat this like a Sunday run, took it controlled, sat in the front group and kept it in control. Then when I felt good in the back end, I just started turning the screws, and then just wound it down toward the end. I think I might have negative split it which is good, I felt very controlled.”

Moody has won the half marathon in Queenstown twice before but today marks the first time the Aucklander has won over the marathon distance. Moody was running in a lead group of athletes for most of the way, before pulling ahead around 35km into the race. 

“I’ve won the half marathon before and been on the podium as well when I first came down here. It’s one I keep coming back for,” he said. “This one is meaningful. Within my run group, the Sunday battlers, I think I’m the only one who hasn’t won a marathon or had any sort of accolades above the half marathon distance so now I can join in on the banter – it’ll make the Sunday run way more enjoyable!”

In the women’s marathon Czech runner Bara Styblova upset the pre-race favourite and six-time winner Hannah Oldroyd to win this year’s Queenstown Marathon on her debut over the distance. Styblova crossed the finish line in 2:48:31 – a new women’s course record – less than a minute ahead of Oldroyd in second. Mindy Kaufman completed the podium in 2:54:24. 

“I’m exhausted, but very happy because it was my first ever marathon and I was trying to just finish it – it went really well,” said Styblova. “I think I took the lead with 3km to the finish line. I tried to speed up toward the end but there was a strong wind.

“This race was a bit spontaneous, we are here on a working holiday and looking for work in Cromwell – so if anyone knows of anything, we are looking,” she joked. “We only entered this race two days ago but I’m really happy I signed up. It’s my first time in Queenstown – we arrived yesterday evening and it was raining so I hadn’t seen the mountains. This morning was a great surprise. I really enjoyed the hills, it was so fun.” 

In the La Roche Posay Half Marathon, Tom Moulai returned to the race with success, this time taking out the win in 1:10:04. Four minutes behind Moulai was Jye Spriggs in 1:14:11, with Nick Roberts a further minute behind in third.

The women’s half marathon Becky Aitkenhead took the win in 1:17:14 more than three minutes clear of Maia Flint in second. Saskia Cosgrove-Drayton completed the podium in 1:22:43. 

In the United Airlines 10km, Switzerland’s Ers Schöneberger – who only flew into Queenstown from Thailand last night and signed up for the race on arrival – ran 33:37 to win the men’s race by nearly a minute. Sascha Mitchell claimed the women’s title in 38:27.

More than 13,000 registered participants tackled the world’s most beautiful marathon today across four distances, the New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty Marathon, La Roche Posay Half Marathon, United Airlines 10km and Kids Run. 

2025 Queenstown Marathon Results

Women’s Marathon
1 – Bara Styblova (Czech Republic) 2:48:31
2 – Hannah Oldroyd (Christchurch) 2:49:11
3 – Mindy Kaufman (United States) 2:54:24

Men’s Marathon
1 – Jack Moody (Auckland) 2:25:02
2 – Timothy Jorgensen (Christchurch) 2:29:05
3 – Blair Mcwhirter (Christchurch) 2:32:10

Women’s Half Marathon
1 – Becky Aitkenhead (Dunedin) – 1:17:14
2 – Maia Flint (Christchurch) – 1:20:41
3 – Saskia Cosgrove-Drayton (Wellington) – 1:22:43

Men’s Half Marathon
1 – Tom Moulai (Christchurch) – 1:10:04
2 – Jye Spriggs (Australia) – 1:14:11
3 – Nick Roberts (Australia) – 1:15:22

Women’s 10km
1 – Sascha Mitchell (Christchurch) 38:27
2 – Alice Gee (Christchurch) 43:16
3 – Rachel Jeffrey (Australia) 43:28

Men’s 10km
1 – Ers Schöneberger (Switzerland) 33:37
2 – Tom Fahey (Dunedin) 34:50
3 – Stephen Woodwark (Wanaka) 35:12

For more information and full results visit queenstown-marathon.co.nz/