Athletics New Zealand – News – Stuart Farquhar second in Tokyo, and round up of marathons and half marathons

ROTORUA – 49th Lion Foundation Rotorua Marathon – 4 May 2013
Hamilton triathlon coach and personal trainer Erin Furness won the women’s race in 2h 57m 25s, a two minute improvement on her fourth placing last year.

Wellington’s Gabrielle O’Rourke, second last year was second again in 2h 59m 50s, with Candice Hammond of Cambridge third in 3h 3m 1s.
Sam Wreford was a cut above the rest winning by a wide margin of nearly 12 minutes.
The 30 year old appliance technician from Timaru took the lead after 12km and went on to finish in the Government Gardens in 2h 22m 23s.

Wreford was content to run with local runner Steven O’Callaghan and Akiyoshi Kamijo of Japan over the early stages of the 42.2km event before knuckling down to a solid pace over the second half. His splits were 1h 14m to the half way at the back of the Lake and 1h 8m. He recorded the fastest time in the run around the Lake since Jonathan Wyatt won in 2h 20m 50s in 2001.
O’Callaghan was second in 2h 34m 12s with Kamijo third in 2h 35m 58s.

Over the past three years Wreford has won the Dunedin, Christchurch and Southland marathons and finished second in the Auckland marathon and last year’s Huntly half marathon.
National marathon champion Tony Payne of Auckland won the associated half marathon in 1h 11m 33s and Rebecca Forlong of Auckland made it two years in a row in the women’s half in 1h 24m 23s.

NELSON
Nelson Shoe Clinic Half and Quarter Marathon – 5 May 2013
The Nelson floods cost Phil Costley several layers of carpet padding and his home for two weeks. In turn, it likely cost Graeme Taylor a Nelson Half Marathon title.
Costley had booked to compete in the Rotorua Marathon but his plans changed after the flood water crept in on his Richmond property on April 22.
“A river ran through my garage,’’ Costley said. “Opening the garage doors and letting it out probably saved my house.”
Costley spent the next week hauling wet carpet and underlay from his house, dealing with the cleaners and his insurance company, and moving his partner and their two young children into his partner’s parents’ house in Mapua.
With the disruption in training and life upheaval, Costley said he didn’t feel right for a marathon. He became a late entrant in yesterday’s half marathon. He led out early breaking away from Taylor just after the start and winning easily in 1h 9m 56. It was the third different race course that the 31-time New Zealand champion has won a Nelson Half Marathon on. Paula Canning of Appleby claimed her eighth consecutive Nelson Half title in 1h 24m 17s. Todd McCashin won the half marathon racewalk in 2h 13m 3s. Terri Grimmett won the women’s walk in 2h 18m 10s.
The largest group on the track was from the Rod Dixon’s KiDSMARATHON programme. The children paraded around the track with their school banners  after most of the half marathon competitors had finished and, directed by 1972 Olympic 1,500m bronze medallist and Nelson native Rod Dixon,  ran a 1.3km course to complete the marathon distance they accumulated during an eight week programme at school and at home. Dixon and Nelson MP Nick Smith greeted each runner at the finish area with a gold medal.
Phil Costley 1h 9m 56s, Graeme Taylor 1h 13m 51s, Julian Davidson 1h 16m 22s. Women Paula Canning 1h 24m 17s, Colette Read 1h 29m 14s, Eileen Searle 1h 31m 41s. Quarter marathon Simon Mardon 36m 48s from Allister Meffan 37m.

DUNEDIN
Lovelock Relays, University Oval – 4 May 2013
Ariki team of Anthony Trainer, Richard Olsen, Zach Butler, Nathan Baxter, Jesse Gibbs and David Catherwood won the senior relay from Caversham, with Ben Anderson of Caversham running the fastest lap of 4m 9s.
The Hill City University women’s team of Kirsty O’Sullivan, Hannah Adamson, Rebekah Greene and Shauna Pali won the women’s relay with Rebekah Greene the fastest with 4m 34s.
Hill City University won the master men while Leith won the master women.

GORE
Gore Half Marathon – 5 May 2013
Local hero Ricky Gutsell took out the Gore Marathon in what race director Graham Hall called the worst conditions in 26 years. The cold wet and windy conditions did not hamper the 50 year old Gore club stalwart who held off Simon Richardson of Dunedin by 5 seconds. Gutsell applied  the pressure on a downhill at around the 10km mark which dropped third place getter Scott Underhay but couldn’t shake Richardson. Youngster Jordan Rackham in his first attempt at the distance was fourth and first U20. The women’s race was convincingly won by Dunedin’s Mel Aitken, winner of last years Moro Marathon. Carmen Chatfield was second with fifteen year olds Hannah Miller and Ffion Muhl fighting out third and fourth and only a second between them.
Results:
Ricky Gutsell (MM50) 1h 18m 16s; Simon Richardson (MM35-49) 1h 18m 23s; Scott Underhay (MM45-49) 1h 20m 14s; Jordan Rackham (U19) 1h 21m 27s; Jared Humphries (SM) 1h 23m 16s; Mathew Broad (SM) 1h 23m 58s; Jack Beaumont (U19) 1h 24m 25s.
Women: Mel  Aitken (MW35-49) 1h 26m 24s; Carmen Chatfield (MW35-49) 1h 39m 09s; Hannah Miller (U19) 1h 42m 15s; Ffion Muhl (U19)  1h 42m 16s; Suzanne Black (SW) 1h 43m 40s; Clare Luoni (SW) 1h 45m 46s.

USA
Toledo Invitational, Fetterman Track Toledo Ohio – 3 May 2013
Brendon Blacklaws won the 800m in 1m 51.12s improving on his previous personal best of 1m 51.80s raced in Berkeley last month. Terefe Ejigu was sixth in the 1500m in 3m 58.38s.

Ivy League, Princeton University New Jersey – 4 May 2013
Julia Ratcliffe won the hammer throw with 66.51m. Her series was 62.96m, 64.35m, 66.51m, F, 65.01m, 65.80m. Two weeks ago Ratcliffe set a New Zealand record of 68.80mm.

JAPAN
IAAF World Challenge Meeting, Tokyo – 5 May 2013
Stuart Farquhar was second in the javelin with a throw of 78.81m. Yukifumi Marakami of Japan won with 81.16m.
 
ROAD AND TRAIL RACES AROUND THE COUNTRY
Auckland
Rat Race 5km, Takapuna, 1 May: Gary Myers 18m 22s, Luke Mercieca 19m 18s. Nicola Smallwood 20m 36s.

National Park
T42 Trail Run 42.2km, Owhango, 4 May: Kerry Suter 2h 52m 20s, Cam Durno 3h 6m 33s. Women Jo Gosse 3h 57m 26s, Caerleon Thacker 4h 16m 31s.

Hanmer Springs
Hanmer Four Square Half Marathon, 4 May: Dave Ridley 1h 15m 11s, Vajin Armstrong 1h 15m 18s, Reece Billington 1h 20m 16s. Women Klaartje Van Schie 1h 26m 44s, Johanna Buick 1h 32m 2s, Karen Muller 1h 33m 50s. 10km Brett Smith 33m 19s, Women Nicki McFadzien 37m 15s.

Murray McKinnon
Athletics Correspondent
Athletics New Zealand
0274 806086
murray@mckinnon.co.nz

Athletics New Zealand – News