Race day decision yields record time

STEP FOR STEP: Tayler Reid (left) and Steve Morrow run shoulder to shoulder in the Matokitoki Classic Half Marathon yesterday. Reid won the 21-kilometre race, and both he and Morrow ran times that bettered the previous record. Picture by Liam Clayton

ELITE triathlete Tayler Reid was not even sure the night before whether he would race the Matokitoki Classic Half Marathon yesterday.

On Saturday night he was feeling the effects of a tough Gisborne Cycle Club race a few hours earlier.

In the past few months, Gisborne’s Reid has raced in glamorous races across the globe and he could have been forgiven for not racing in a relatively low-key and mainly recreational local event that includes hills, gravel roads and unforgiving cross-country sections.

There was no need.

“I woke up and realised I didn’t want to miss it; I just love that race and that great course,” Reid said after a hard-fought win in record time over Gisborne Harrier Club veteran runner Steve Morrow, who also beat the previous record.

Reid’s time of 1 hour 18 minutes and 32 seconds over the 21.1-kilometre course with gravel roads and a cross-country section between Matokitoki Valley Road and Cave Road was impressive.

Surprisingly, his class was only just enough to hold off Morrow, who finished 35 seconds later.

Morrow held Reid in his sights until the finishing line at Waiteata Park, keeping the young triathlete nervous until the end.

The pair had duelled it out shoulder to shoulder to the 15-kilometre point at the Holden’s Hill climb at Riverside Road, pushing each other hard all the way. Morrow later admitted that he had anticipated that rise to Goodwin Road with dread.

“That was where Tayler dropped me last year and I was starting to tire again by the time we started that climb.”

Reid did attack on the hill, but took only a small lead. He realised that he had to keep working hard to maintain it, as Morrow did not break.

The two leaders’ fast times over the tough course was accentuated by the eight-minute gap from Morrow to third placegetter and renowned local hill runner Rocky Smythe. That meant Smythe was some two kilometres back when Morrow finished.

The women’s race was decided at the same spot. Helayna Ruifrok, in serious training for the ultra-distance Old Ghost Road event on the West Coast early next year, overtook early leader Kelly Pelham on Holden’s Hill.

In an almost exact copy of the men’s race, she carved out a narrow gap that was also too close for comfort. Just 36 seconds separated the two runners at the finish line.

Samantha Jennings, who remained in contention until the final stages of the race, grabbed the bronze medal in 1:46:11.

The walking section was dominated by specialist Chris Bowman, who completed the distance in 2:44:57. There was never any uncertainty over the outcome of that race, as Bowman got to the tape an impressive 20 minutes ahead of James Brown. The bronze medal was won by Reuben Huia in 3:05:46.

Outside the medal contests of the Gisborne Harrier Club-organised Classic, many of the 80-odd half marathon starters achieved personal-best efforts.

Supporting events over five and 10 kilometres added to the occasion. Some of Gisborne’s younger athletes ran sharp times. Many of them possess speed that would make older runners jealous, but the youngsters haven’t quite built up the endurance needed for the full version of the Matokitoki Classic.

The seniors will realise their advantage is only temporary.

Results21.1 kilometres

Men: Tayler Reid 1:18:31, 1; Steve Morrow 1:19:06, 2; Rocky Smythe 1:27:08, 3.

Women: Helayna Ruifrok 1:44:12, 1; Kelly Pelham 1:44:48, 2; Samantha Jennings 1:46:11, 3.

Walkers (mixed): Chris Bowman 2:44:57, 1; James Brown 3:04:35, 2; Reuben Houia 3:05:46, 3.

Five kilometres

Boys/men: Mark La Roche 20:21, 1; Ty Houthuijzen 23:37, 2; Arish Naresh 25:26, 3.

Girls/women: Myah Houthuijzen 22:45, 1; Tui Ruifrok 24:30, 2; Chantelle Venter 25:01, 3.

10 kilometres

Boys/men: Hayato Hughes 53:10, 1; Chris Hughes 53:11, 2; Angus Baker 53:30, 3.

Girls/women: Le’Sharn Anderson 47:55, 1; Margeaux Pittar 49:56, 2; Aana Phillips 58:57, 3.