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Matt Dravitzki and Tracey Clissold should win the respective New Zealand marathon titles based on the Christchurch SBS event this Sunday.
Dravitzki won in Christchurch two years ago in 2h 18m 43s, and should have the pace again, to head off Seaton Meredith, Kim Hogarth, Brent Pulley and Chris Dagg.
A win for Dravitzki will see him joining Todd Stevens as members of the Wellington Scottish Club to have won the title in recent years.
Commonwealth Games marathon representative Craig Kirkwood will provide the early pace, and will decide at half way whether to continue through to the finish.
Twice New Zealand marathon champion and three times winner at Christchurch, Phil Costley has yet to decided if he will start. The options for him are the marathon, the half marathon or on a bicycle as a spectator.
"I haven't decided yet, I may leave it to Sunday morning. I'm concentrating on mountain running at the moment, doing a lot of strength work," said Costley.
"I have done a number of long runs as well, so there is no doubt that I can run 42km," he added.
Clissold who has won the Auckland and Rotorua events, will be attempting the Christchurch course for the first time.
The 37 year old from Auckland will be treating the race as a build up for the Gold Coast marathon early next month.
"I need to do a long run, so I decided to run in Christchurch. I won't be putting any pressure on myself as I want to hit under 2h 42m on the Gold Coast," said Clissold.
"I will run the first half around 1h 20m, and then decide how I will go to the finish," she added.
Clissold won the 1996 New Zealand marathon title in Auckland.
Shireen Crumpton from Dunedin will provide plenty of competition for the title. Crumpton, who is three times national half marathon champion has yet to win the full marathon title. Also competing is Kate Seibold- Crosbie from Melbourne. The 30 year old has a best of 2h 50m 2s run in Canberra two years ago. Stacey Pearson, who won in Christchurch last year has entered again.
Bernie Portenski, masters winner at Christchurch for four years in a row from 1985, setting a masters record of 2h 41m 41s in 1988, will be competing. Portenski has an amazing record in marathon running throughout the country and is three times New Zealand marathon champion.
Nina Rillstone, aiming for the world half marathon championship in Edmonton Canada in October, should win the associated half marathon. Also competing in the half is national cross country and 3000m track champion Jess Ruthe.
Mark McKeown of Tauranga is the favourite for the men's half marathon.
source Athletics New Zealand
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