Athletics New Zealand Media Release - 8 September 2009

CAMPODOLCINO, ITALY - 6 September 2009
25th World Mountain Running Championships
Michael Banks finished 12th in the junior men's 8680m +550m, in 41m 55s. Won by Xavier Chevrier of Italy in 38m 26s.
Melissa Moon was 24th in the senior women's over the same distance in 47m 37s, Lara Phillips was 41st in 49m 36s and Sarah Biss 61st in 55m 31s. They were 11th in the teams. Elisa Desco of Italy won in 43m 39s.
Samantha Blanch was 30th in the junior women's 4340m +275m in 26m 3s, Melissa Murrihy 34th in 26m 50s and Rochelle Sceats 37th in 27m 54s. They were 12th in the teams. Yasemi Can of Turkey won in 22m 18s.
James Coubrough was 69th in the senior men 13,020m +825m in 1h 3m 29s, Dougal Thorburn was 73rd in 1h 3m 47s, Aaron Jackson 88th in 1h 5m 9s and Daniel Clendon 110th in 1h 8m 35s. Glenn Hughes DNS. New Zealand were 17th in the teams. Geoffrey Kusuro of Uganda won in 54m 51s.

INTERLAKEN, SWITZERLAND - 5 September 2009
Jungfrau Marathon
Jonathan Wyatt won the 42.2km uphill, ascending 2000m, Jungfrau Marathon in 2h 58m 33s. Tarcis Ancay of Switzerland was second in 2h 59m 55s, with Robert Krupicka of Czech Republic third in 3h 0m 38s. Wyatt won the same race in 2007 in 2h 55m 32s. His next race will be this Saturday over 12km in Lienz Austria.

LONDON UK - 6 September 2009
Kimberley Smith finished fifth in 15m 27s in the women's 5km challenge around Hyde Park. Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya won in 15m 11s, from Linet Masai of Kenya 15m 12s, Aberu Kebede Ethiopia in 15m 13s and Inga Abitova of Russia 15m 23s.

YARRA BOULEVARD VICTORIA - 6 September 2009
Burnley Half Marathon
Jason Woolhouse won the Burnley half marathon in 64m 30s, nearly two minutes ahead of Nathan Hartigan of Ballarat.

RAROTONGA - 5 September 2009
Round Rarotonga Road Race
Colin Earwaker, made the most of his prize picked up at the Rotorua Marathon, by winning the trip he won, the Round Rarotonga 31km road race in around 2 hours. He won by 15 minutes. Craig Motley was seventh in 2h 25m.

DUNEDIN - 5 September 2009
New Zealand Road Running Championships
Kim Hogarth completed an impressive haul of five New Zealand titles in a year, with a gutsy win in the New Zealand road running championships in Dunedin on Saturday. Hogarth battled it out with Canterbury’s Sam Wreford over the second half. The Nelson runner had the strength when it counted, easing into the lead while the others started to feel the pressure.
Hogarth recorded 30m 3s, eight seconds ahead of Wreford with Brett Tingay of Canterbury third in 30m 25s. His five titles are half marathon, 3000m track, 5000m track, 3000m steeplechase and now the road title as well as a member of the winning team in the national road relay.
“It has been a hell of a season for a comeback in my book, I’m going to take that and build on it, and look out everybody else next season,” he said. “It was a hell of a last lap, if I hadn’t gapped in he (Wreford) would have got me,” he added.
The 33 year old said that he was not happy with his third place in the cross country championship last month. “I lacked the mental strength, as I don’t race as much as these other guys,” he said determined to take it this time.
Fiona Crombie added the senior women’s road title to the cross country won last month. After a great battle with Otago’s Rachel Kingsford Crombie eventually pulled ahead to win in 35m 27s, 19 seconds better than Kingsford. “It started off a nice easy pace, which was quite comfortable sitting in the group and seeing who were going to be the play makers,” said Crombie. “I slowly increased the tempo and the last two laps increased it that much more to try and get rid of Rachel, but she hung in very tight which made it a good last couple of laps,” she added.
Jono Jackson of Auckland outsprinted defending champion Eric Speakman of Napier to win the M19 title with Auckland’s Danielle Travis collecting the W19. The 16 titles went to cross country champions Mohamed Ali of Waikato and Anna-Lisa Uttley of Otago.
Richard Bennett maintained his unbeaten record in the masters men, winning the 10km convincingly in 31m 32s. Grant McLean of Wellington joined Bennett over the early stages of the race, but the tall frame of the Canterbury runner was soon calling the tune from the front. Bennett made it four years in a row the same winning streak as the cross country crown won in Christchurch last month. Bennett from Canterbury said he was fairly happy with the result. “I’m wondering when it is going to come to an end,” he said. “I found it fairly tough, I made a wee bit of a break and just held it, I didn’t increase it at all, and just kept the tempo going,” he added.
Tracy Crossley of Canterbury was equally impressive in the master women, adding to road to her cross country title. Quentin Rew of Hawkes Bay Gisborne, renowned for his forward roll on the finish line at the track championships in Wellington in March, showed he has a future ahead of him in walking with a convincing win in the 10km road walk. Rew dipped under 45minutes for the first time, winning in 44m 57s. Rew said that he thought it wouldn’t be wise for any spectacular finishes this time. “A few people put in a request for it, discretion was the better part of valour, I thought it better not to make any enemies,” he said.

WHANGAMATA - 5 September 2009
Craig Kirkwood won the Whangamata half marathon in a race record 1h 10m 27s, clipping three seconds off Scot Winton's 2003 time. Paul Crowhurst was second in 1h 12m 39s, with Corey Hinde third in 1h 15m 2s. Michelle Basson won the women in 1h 23m 9s, from Mikki Williden 1h 24m 27s and Jo Carrel 1h 25m 41s. John Caie was the best of the masters in 1h 17m 13s and Bridget Ray was the fastest in the master women with 1h 27m 51s.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST - Cross Country and Road Selector
The Board of Athletics NZ is seeking expressions of interest for the vacant position of Cross Country and Road Selector, following the recent resignation of John Bowden. The Cross Country and Road Panel are responsible for the selection of Athletics NZ teams for all out of stadia events. The Panel consists of three persons, the two incumbents being Barry Ellis (Tauranga) and Craig Motley (Christchurch).
The appointment will be for the remainder of the two-year term.
Expressions of interest should be directed to scott@athletics.org.nz and close 5pm Monday 14th September 2009.
Those who have already expressed interest, need not re-submit.