Athletics New Zealand - Weekly Roundup

ROTORUA

Lion Foundation Rotorua Marathon – 1 May 2010

Dale Warrander recovered from a bout of cramping five kilometres from the finish to storm through over the closing stages to grab his fourth Rotorua marathon title.

Local runner Steven O’Callaghan, who had victory dramatically snatched from him metres from the finishing line last year, made a bid for victory coming off the hill at the 25km mark. He struck out to a good lead but by 37km he had been gathered in by Warrander and Japanese runner Tsutomu Saeki and slowly drifted back.

Saeki, second in 2007, took advantage of Warrander cramping and set sail at 38km for the finish in the Government Gardens in the 46th annual event.

But Warrander had not quite finished and the 36 year old re-gathered his strength to pass Saeki 1km from the end.

Warrander recorded 2h 26m 54s, 15 seconds ahead of Saeki with O’Callaghan coming home third in 2h 28m 57s. The Queensland based Warrander now joins the legendary Jack Foster as the only athletes to have won the race four times.

“About five kilometres to go I started getting cramps in my calves, but I felt fantastic mentally and physically - the body felt great. I stopped at one point and sort of stretched it out and then got back on to it,” said Warrander.

“The Japanese took off when I eased back with cramps in the calves. But I came back and guts’ it out,” he added.

Warrander said he will be back even better next year going for an outright five wins and a fast time of under 2h 20m.

Through an interpreter Saeki said that he was pleased with his second placing.

O’Callaghan said that he tried and ran an honest race.

“If you don’t give it a good crack you only wonder what would have happened,” he said.

Rotorua’s Johanna Ottosson, who has been in the country for nearly nine years after coming from Sweden, ran a controlled and consistent paced race to win the women’s section. Ottosson recorded 2h 50m 19s, nearly six minutes ahead of Victoria Humphries of Wellington who second for the second year in a row. Lesley Turner Hall of Auckland was third in 2h 57m 5s.

Ottosson said the win was a triumph for her coming back from major knee surgery two years ago after falling off a trail bike.

“I went out with a plan and stuck with it,” she said.

The 46 year old Humphries worked hard all the way in her third marathon.

“I couldn’t have gone any faster today,” said Humphries.

Two age group records were set, Warrander in the 35-39 group and 80 year old Stan Gawler of Christchurch who ran 5h 3m 24s for an 80 plus age group record.

Results:

Men.-

Dale Warrander (Queensland) 2h 26m 54s 1, Tsutomu Saeki (Japan) 2h 27m 9s 2, Steven O’Callaghan (Rotorua) 2h 28m 57s 3, Glynn Hadley (Chch) 2h 33m 41s 4, Gavin Stevens (Akld) 2h 37m 1s 5, Kyle Macdonald (Tauranga) 2h 39m 45s 6, Kees Keizer (Wgtn) 2h 41m 33s 7, Grant Schofield (Akld) 2h 42m 47s 8, Chris Corney (Rotorua) 2h 43m 21s 9, Adrian Lysaght (Tokoroa) 2h 45m 9s 10.

Women.-

Johanna Ottosson (Rotorua) 2h 50m 19s 1, Victoria Humphries (Wgtn) 2h 56m 1s 2, Lesley Turner Hall (Akld) 2h 57m 5s 3, Marion Millward (Raglan) 3h 0m 13s 4, Fiona Eagles (Akld) 3h 9m 4s 5, Erin Furness (Hamilton) 3h 10m 20s 6, Maria Kroonenberg (Akld) 3h 11m 1s 7, Janet Crawford (Upper Hutt) 3h 17m 33s 8, Kathryn Gardner (Manukau) 3h 20m 8s 9, Keri Houston (Cambridge) 3h 21m 34s 10.

For full results go to:  www.rotoruamarathon.co.nz

NELSON

Nelson Half Marathon – 2 May 2010

Simon Mardon won in 1h 12m 9s, beating Kim Hogarth by 40 seconds. Paula Canning won the women’s section for the fifth straight year in 1h 25m 49s. Nyle Sunderland was the best of the walkers over the half marathon distance in 2h 10m 31s.

CHRISTCHURCH

Tai Tapu 15km Road Race – 2 May 2010

Rowan Hooper won the 15km event in 45m 56s, heading in Mark Bailey 46m 8s, Matt Smith 46m 39s and Luke Hurring 47m 39s. Nyla Carroll was the fastest woman with 53m 59s. Kellie Palmer recorded 54m 30s and Alexandra Williams 56m 7s. Kate Newitt was the best of the 10km walkers with 49m 50s.

DUNEDIN

Lovelock Relays, Logan Park – 1 May 2010

Caversham won the senior men’s relay, beating Ariki while Leith took out the masters men. Otago University won the senior women’s relay.

INVERCARGILL

Bill Torrance Memorial Relays – 1 May 2010

Thirteen year old Meg Adamson was the fastest woman around the 3.8km lap in 14m 39s. Kathy Maclachlan was the next fastest along the Waihopai River embankment in 14m 57s. Shaun Burgess was the best of the men in 12m 47s, with Barry Ledington coming in with a time of 13m 12s.

UNITED STATES

Oregon Relays – 30 April 2010: Alice Taylor from Concordia Oregon was 12th in the 5000m in 16m 48.31s.

Arkansas Twilight, Fayetteville – 30 April 2010: Katie Wright won the 1500m in 4m 20.61s, Melanie Cleland 10th in 4m 32.77s.

Jesse Owens Classic, Columbus Ohio – 30 April 2010: Terefe Ejigu 3rd in the 5000m in 14m 19.64s, Caden Shields 7th in 14m 30.07s.

Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational, Stanford University California – 1 May 2010: Brett Tingay 12th Sec 2 1500m 3m 52.23s, Dallas Bowden 10th Sec 3 1500m 3m 52.13s, Brendon Blacklaws 1st Sec 5 1500m 3m 49.35s. Edwin Henshaw 30th Sec 2 5000m 14m 35.24s. Fiona Crombie 4th Sec 1 3000m steeplechase 10m 7.99s.

Big East, Gettler Stadium, Cincinnati Ohio – 1 May 2010: 1500m preliminary rounds Ht1, Hayden McLaren 3m 48.99s Q, Mathew Mildenhall 3m 49.17s Q. Ht2, Carl Mackenzie 3m 48.99s Q, Dominic Channon 3m 49.07s Q.

America East, University of New Hampshire – 1 May 2010: Holly van Dalen 1st 10,000m 35m 21.68s.