Sam Wreford wins Christchurch Marathon

Sam Wreford wins Christchurch Marathon

CHRISTCHURCH – 1 June 2014

Despite the bitterly cold conditions Sam Wreford clipped seven seconds off his career best time in winning the Christchurch marathon in 2:16:28 on Sunday.

Christchurch Airport Marathon and Half Marathon

The 31 year old from Timaru led throughout and won by a wide margin of ten minutes over Takapuna’s Stephen Lett (2:26:35). Former national marathon champion Tony Payne from Auckland was third in 2:27:16 with Gavin Stevens fourth in 2:37:34. Wreford said that the ice on the road cost him about a minute and the chance of breaking Tom Birnie’s 1985 race record of 2:15:12. Wreford’s previous best time was set in Invercargill in November 2012.

Texas based Aucklander Liza Hunter-Galvan won the women’s marathon for the fifth time. The 44 year old clocked 2:43:40. The Otago pair of Victoria Beck 2:46:16 PB and Mel Aitken 2:56:55 PB were next to finish.

Callan Moody of Canterbury had a great battle with Auckland’s Malcolm Hicks in the half marathon. Moody winning in 1:06:06 PB, 80 metres ahead of Hicks who ran 1:06:19 and Nathan Baxter 1:06:28. Aaron Pulford was fourth in 1:06:45. Gabrielle O’Rourke of Wellington won the women’s half marathon heading in Canterbury’s Alex Williams by 15 seconds.

Matt Harris took out the 10km in 30:44 in a close finish with Peter Meffan 30:49 and Brett Smith 30:52. Rachel Kingsford won the women’s 10km in 34:52 followed by Flora Brocherie 35:00.