Auckland's Sam Dobson has won the Rotorua Marathon, holding off three-time winner Phil Costley in a tight race.
The women's race was taken out by Japan's Naoko Tsuchiya.
Dobson crossed the line in a personal best time of 2.29.04 to huge cheers from the crowd lining Queens Dr.
Costley, a Nelson teacher, finished 27 seconds back. The Rotorua favourite also received a big cheer.
Auckland's Jonathan Jackson came in third.