They said that with 8000 registered participants in the half marathon, of which 46% are women, the men’s and women’s name lists were separated for printing.
“Unfortunately, the wrong list was used for the women’s items.”
The issue is limited to women’s half marathon T-shirts and hoodies where participant names appear.
“We sincerely apologise for the mistake and are working to make this right. Anyone who purchased an affected T-shirt or hoodie without realising their name was not included can request a full refund.”
The spokesperson said they were arranging a reprint of the women’s half marathon T-shirts with the correct names.
‘How lame’
In a video, the competitor said she noticed the apparent omission while collecting her race pack yesterday.
She showed a hoodie with runners’ names printed in small type alongside a pink logo and the 21.1km race distance.
“They have everybody’s names printed on the back. So you think, but actually only the men’s names, and it was a mistake.
“How lame,” she said.
She said the shirts and shorts she had pre-purchased were also unavailable when she collected her race pack, which she described as “very disappointing”.
A female runner at the marathon bib collection this afternoon in The Cloud on Queens Wharf told the Herald they noticed a similar issue.
She said some of the merchandise only had the men’s names printed on them, including the half marathon shirts and hoodies.
A staff member stationed at a table explaining the problem to participants told her the issue was “hugely disappointing”.
The women’s hoodie, with no women’s names on it.
Social media commenters criticised the apparent omission of women’s names.
“This is soooo disappointing. Do better, Auckland Marathon,” one person wrote.
“Omg I thought I was actually going crazy when I couldn’t find my name,” another female runner wrote.
Others said they thought the omission of the women’s names was “very much a design choice”.
A TikTok video claims that one item of Auckland Marathon merchandise, which prints participants’ names on the back, lists only male names. Photo / @that_tasi
Women registered for the half marathon can purchase a replacement at the Expo today until 5pm or from the merchandise tent at the finish line tomorrow between 7am and 1pm.
Replacement T-shirts will be posted free of charge following the event.
The Auckland Marathon returns for its 35th year tomorrow, with more than 18,000 participants registered.
Participants can choose from five distances: the marathon, half marathon, 11km traverse, 5km and the kids marathon.
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