Rotorua Marathon: Masataka Uchino wins marathon

Japan's Masataka Uchino became only the second overseas runner to win the Rotorua Marathon on Saturday. Photo/Stephen Parker

Japan's Masataka Uchino has become the second overseas runner to win the Rotorua Marathon.

Uchino had never raced on New Zealand soil before Saturday and decided to take part in the 50th Rotorua Marathon after a friend recommended it.

His friend Akiyoshi Kamijo came third last year at the marathon and told Uchino to enter this year.

Uchino was neck and neck with three-time champion Phil Costley until the 32km mark where he made his move, opening up a big gap.

"I thought that is the point to go for it," he explained.

He went on to win the race in a time of 2h 27m 45s, two minutes ahead of Costley. "I am very happy to win."

Uchino is the second Japanese winner of the Rotorua Marathon, which was also won by Katsumi Tsuchiya in 2002.

Uchino also overcame jetlag to win the title, after his flight was delayed and he arrived in Rotorua on Friday night.

Auckland's Tony Payne finished third, three minutes off the pace, after letting slip a 20s lead at the 25km mark.

Rotorua's top hope Steven O'Callaghan came fourth about five minutes behind Uchino.

O'Callaghan had struggled with a knee injury leading up to the marathon but said his hamstring was what gave him trouble on Saturday.

"The knee held out okay but the hamstring was terrible. Through the [Hamurana] hills it was locking up and I never really recovered.

"But I am just happy to finish. There was a couple of times where I was almost going to pull out. If I had been given the opportunity [to stop] I would have taken it."

He said he was still determined to get his first win at the event, after three podiums.

"I will definitely be back next year as I still have not won it."

The Rotorua Marathon doubled as the Athletics New Zealand Marathon Championships with Costley and Sally Gibbs taking the New Zealand titles.

The winner of the inaugural Rotorua Marathon in 1965, Dave Heine, had originally ruled himself out of the marathon because of a knee problem.

However, he took part on Saturday, finishing the 42.2km course in under seven hours.