Athletics: Dobson, Tsuchiya win Rotorua

Sam Dobson crossing the line at the Rotorua Marathon. Photo / Getty

Sam Dobson and Naoko Tsuchiya both played the waiting game and came through over closing stages to win the men's and women's titles at the Rotorua Marathon on Saturday.

Dobson, 29, was first across the line in the iconic event in 2:29:04, 27 seconds ahead of three times winner Phil Costley with Jono Jackson in third place, another 55 seconds back.

Making the best of the perfect conditions, a lead group of five athletes, including all the pre-race favourites, broke away right from the start and took turns at the front to go through the halfway point in 1:17:25.

Costley was the first to drop off the pace on the hills at the back of the course, but the cagey 45-year-old was simply conserving energy and got back with the leaders soon after.

Ben Ruthe was the next to fold, dropping off around the 30km mark, then Chris Sanson found the pace too tough. Dobson had enough strength at the end, edging ahead of Jackson and Costley to win in a personal best time, a good achievement on the challenging course.

In the women's race, Jess Ruthe started off at a very quick pace, going through the halfway mark in 1:22:35, five minutes ahead of the next fastest female runners, but a calf injury with 10km to go ruined her hopes.

Tsuchiya, third in the 2008 Rotorua Marathon, and Erin Furness, winner of the 2013 event took the lead and fought out the final kilometres before the Japanese runner edged ahead and went on to win in 2:53:24, almost two minutes ahead of Furness.

Katie Wyrill from Auckland finished under the three hour barrier for the first time in third place.

Tim Stewart won a very close half marathon in 1:08:28, eight seconds ahead of eighteen-year-old Michael Voss from Rotorua, with Josh Maisey third another six seconds back. All three ran personal best times for the distance.

Lisa Robertson won the women's half marathon in 1:15:34 from fellow Aucklander Alice Mason and Serena Hammond.

More than 5700 runners and walkers took place in the various events over the two days including more1600 children in the mini marathon on Friday.

Results from the Rotorua Marathon on Saturday:

Marathon Men
1. Sam Dobson (Auckland) 2:29:04, 2. Phil Costley (Nelson) 2:29:31, 3. Jonathan Jackson (Auckland) 2:30:26.

Marathon Women
1. Naoko Tsuchiya (Japan) 2:53:24, 2. Erin Furness (Hamilton) 2:55:17, 3. Katie Wyrill (Auckland) 2:58:07.

Half Marathon Men
1. Tim Stewart (Hamilton) 1:08:28, 2. Michael Voss (Rotorua) 1:08:36, 3. Josh Maisey (Auckland) 1:08:42.

Half Marathon Women
1. Lisa Robertson (Auckland) 1:15:34, 2. Alice Mason (Auckland) 1:16:18, 3. Serena Hammond (Thames) 1:22:27.