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Scott Winton, running at a consistent pace, was a comfortable winner of the annual Rotorua Marathon today in 2h 25m 34s.
The 31 year journalist student from Auckland was untroubled over the second half finishing two minutes ahead of Queenstown farmer Chris Dagg.
Winton said that he was delighted with his time.
"Once I went to the lead I was not sure of what was happening behind me, so I just went for it," he said.
"I held something back, just in case someone came through.
"It is the number one marathon in New Zealand, and some great runners have won it in the past, so it is great to get my name on the honours list," said Winton.
Next on the agenda for Winton is the Gold Coast marathon in Queensland in July where he hopes to run under 2h 18m and qualify for the world athletic championships in Osaka next year.
In perfect conditions in the Lion Foundation sponsored event Winton and Dagg were joined in the leading pack, from the start, by Martin Cox of England, Jason Cameron of Tauranga and Takaaki Mukai of Japan.
Winton led the group through 10km in 34m 56s, with a gap back to Kerry Rodger of Auckland who passed 10km in 35m 22s.
Dagg and Winton matched strides on the climb up the hill at the back of the Lake to the half way mark. Between 18km and 19km Cox's back seized up forcing him to withdraw at 23km.
At the 25km mark Dagg and Winton were still locked together with Rodger holding third. Over the next 5km Winton eased into the lead and it was just a matter from this point on for Dagg to hold on to second.
"It was a case of running for a position today," said Dagg.
Rodger who admitted to feeling terrible over the second half recorded an outstanding time for his age of 44, of 2h 29m 36s for third.
Melanie Burke followed up her second place last year in the women's section, carving 11 minutes off her debut time, racing in a clear winner of the women's section in 2h 53m 35s.
The 26 year old Aucklander missed out on the opportunity of challenging three times previous winner and women's race record holder Nyla Carroll over the second half after Carroll was reduced to a walk at 22km.
Carroll hit the wall as early as 9km with cramping in both thigh muscles.
"I had cramp in both quads and walked between 22km and 26km," said Carroll.
The former national marathon champion and race record holder at 2h 37m 37s was leading at 20km running at 2h 47m pace, before resorting to a walk.
Carroll eventually finished in 3h 25m 45s.
Burke winner of the fastest first time marathon prize last year said that she decided to come back to see how she would go again.
"I was aiming to take three minutes off today's time, but 11 minutes better than last year is pretty good," said Burke.
"I felt pretty bad for Nyla, it is a pity that she couldn't make it through as I would have liked to have seen how I would have gone against her," she added.
Eveline Coombe of Wanaka, winner in 2002 was second in her best time of 2h 57m 35s with first time marathoner Fleur Bromley of Auckland third in 2h 58m 40s.
Bernardine Portenski of Wellington notched up her 100th marathon. The 56 year old ran 3h 3m 42s to break her own 55-59 age group record by three minutes.
"I would have liked to have gone under three hours, I usually pick it up at 30km, but this time there was nothing there, said Portenski.
"The conditions were terrific but the course seems to get longer every year. The hardest part is those last 2.2km," she added.
Another notable milestone was reached with Michael Stewart of Lower Hutt clocking in to complete his 400th marathon.
Result:
Men: Scott Winton (Auckland) 2h 25m 34s 1, Chris Dagg (Queenstown) 2h 27m 42s 2, Kerry Rodger (Auckland) 2h 29m 36s 3, Takaaki Mukai (Japan) 2h 35m 0s 4, Peter Handcock (New Plymouth) 2h 35m 49s 5, Jason Cameron (Tauranga) 2h 38m 6s 6, Chris Corney (Mt Maunganui) 2h 43m 56s 7, Ross McIntyre (Taupo) 2h 44m 41s 8, Clyde Rosanowski (Wellington) 2h 46m 32s 9, Tony Price (Masterton) 2h 47m 22s 10.
Women: Melanie Burke (Auckland) 2h 53m 35s 1, Eveline Coombe (Wanaka) 2h 57m 35s 2, Fleur Bromley (Auckland) 2h 58m 40s 3, Lesley Turner Hall (Auckland) 3h 0m 56s 4, Bernie Portenski (Wellington) 3h 3m 42s 5, Debbie Fillery (Auckland) 3h 6m 26s 6, Sally Anderson (Wellington) 3h 8m 14s 7, Helen Anderson (Wellington) 3h 8m 52s 8, Jill Fuller (Havelock North) 3h 9m 25s 9, Linley Smith (Auckland) 3h 13m 19s 10.
source Athletics New Zealand
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