Linford, McKenzie finish inside top 10 in Kerikeri half

Kerikeri Half Marathon, Ady McKenzie. 18 November 2017 Northern Advocate photograph by Michael Cunningham

Northlanders managed a pair of top 10 finishes at the ASB Kerikeri Half Marathon.

Harry Linford finished fourth in the men's race while Ady McKenzie was sixth overall in the women's division in the race doubling as the New Zealand Half Marathon Championships.

Craig Lautenslager and Annika Pfitzinger were the overall winners in those races, with Lautenslager breaking the course record in an enthralling battle with defending champion Oska Baynes.

Lautenslager ran a record 1:04.58 in his first half marathon with Baynes just three seconds behind, both beating Seaton Meredith's race record 1:05.14 set in 1999.

Cam Graves from Auckland finished third in 1:07.17 while Linford (1:10.42) came in fourth.

Lautenslager paid tribute to Baynes after the race.

"Oska was just hammering the whole time. In the last kilometre I got a little bit of a lead on him, he passed me and then I charged and held on to the finish," he said

"I was hoping to go under 1:05 and was a little surprised to get that time in the conditions. I couldn't have done that time without Oska out there."

Pfitzinger, running her first half marathon since 2015, broke her personal best by almost two minutes to claim her first NZ senior title with a winning time of 1.05:58.

"I wasn't sure if I would run the race but had a good session last Saturday and decided to come up to Kerikeri," she said.

"They were pretty tough conditions, with a head wind most of the way. I was running in no man's land for a while and managed to reel in a some guys and work them a little which really helped me get through to the finish."

McKenzie, as well as being sixth overall in 1.21:48, was third in the Masters Women's Championship behind Sally Gibbs and Fiona Love.

Kerikeri's Shirley Dryden won the competitive walking division in fine style covering the half marathon course in 2.15.27 with Kathy McCombe second in 2.31.00 and Shona Nash, in 2.39.17, third.

The men's division was won by Chris Paice in 2.20.18 with last year's winner Alan Connolly second in 2.23.55 and Brendon Gibbs third in 2.29.08

This year saw the inaugural Ray White 5km as part of the ASB Kerikeri Half-Marathon, where more than 300 competitors started at Marsden Estate, weaved their way through the vines to follow the last 4.5km of the half marathon course, finishing at Kerikeri Domain.

Although conditions were less than ideal, competitors were full of praise for the entertainment along the way as well as the water stations every 3km that were manned by the Rapid Relief team.

Unfortunately, due to the weather, prizegiving was cancelled and all spot prize winners will be announced on Sport Northland's Events Facebook page and informed via email.

Sport Northland's Events Manager Azelia Parkinson said it was great to have so many people out supporting the runners, walkers and road racing competitors along the way, even in the wet and cold.

"Sport Northland appreciates the assistance received from all the wonderful sponsors, volunteers and the community who pull together to make this such a great event", she said.

Sport Northland is yet to confirm the date for next year's ASB Kerikeri Half Marathon but at this stage is planned for Saturday, November 17.