Athletics New Zealand – News – Sam Wreford and Erin Furness win at Rotorua Marathon

Sam Wreford dominated the 49th Lion Foundation Rotorua Marathon today, while Erin Furness won the women’s race.

Timaru’s Wreford won in 2 hours 22 minutes and 23 seconds, almost 12 minutes ahead of second placed local hope Steven O’Callaghan with another minute back to the first international competitor, Akiyoshi Kamijo from Japan.

Wreford ran conservatively in the early stages, dropping off O’Callaghan and Kamijo around the 12 kilometre mark, before going through half way in 1 hour 14 minutes. He then picked up the pace considerably, aided by steady following wind for the return journey and finished in the fastest time seen at Rotorua for 12 years, since 2004 Olympic Marathon representative Jonathan Wyatt won in 2 hours 20 minutes 50 seconds in 2001.

The women’s race saw Gabrielle O’Rourke from Wellington get out to an early lead from Rotorua’s Sue Crowley and Candice Hammond from Cambridge. By the half way mark, Hamilton’s Erin Furness had moved up and into the lead while O’Rourke, runner up last year, had a mix-up with her drinks and had dropped back to second, along with Hammond.
 
Furness continued to extend her lead while Hammond moved into second on her own. Furness continued to extend the margin, winning in 2 hours 57 minutes 25 seconds and was two and a half minutes clear at the finish, while O’Rourke reeled in Hammond and went on to claim second place for the second consecutive year.

Auckland athletes took out the victories in the men’s and women’s half marathon events. Tony Payne took out the men’s race in 1 hour 11 minutes 33 seconds and Rebecca Forlong was the winner in the women’s section in 1 hour 24 minutes 23 seconds.

Amy Campbell started running at 5.30 am putting in a l42km lap of the lake in time to get on the start line and complete a second lap during the race, finishing looking very fresh and as if she could do another lap.

Mel Tuineau racked up an impressive feat, running her 100th marathon at Rotorua.

Almost 4000 runners and walkers took part in various distances at the iconic Rotorua event in perfect conditions.

Athletics New Zealand – News

Result – Lion Foundation Rotorua Marathon

Men: 1 Sam Wreford Timaru 2h 22m 23s, 2 Steven O’Callaghan Rotorua 2hr 34m 12s, 3 Akiyoshi Kamijo Japan 2h 35m 58s, 4 Matthew Parsonage Rotorua 2h 38m 04s, 5 Daniel Clendon Wellington 2h 43m 12s.
Women: 1 Erin Furness Hamilton 2h 57m 25s, 2 Gabrielle O’Rourke 2h 59m 50s, 3 Candice Hammond 3h 03m 01s, 4 Sue Crowley Rotorua 3h08m 35s, 5 Fiona Eagles Auckland 3h 12m 35s.

Half Marathon
Men: 1 Tony Payne Auckland 1h 11m 33s, 2 Johan Vanhoovels Ngatea 1h 15m 26s, Piotr Butkowski Poland 1h 17m 39s.
Women: 1 Rebecca Forlong Auckland 1h 24m 23s, 2 Katherine Prumm Hamilton 1h 24m 47s, 3 Hilary Wicks Papakura 1h 28m 57s.