Athletics: Moroccans unknown marathon quantity

By Terry Maddaford

Until Moroccans Mohamed Zahir and Semlali Lahcen and their coach touch down at the airport early tomorrow morning, organisers of Sunday's Auckland international marathon will not know if the race record will be under fire.

"We know they are coming and are supposed to have marathon bests of around 2h 12m," said BMW Marathon general manager David Ligoff yesterday.

"But until we have spoken to them and ascertained what shape they are in, we don't really know what to expect."

Course record-holder Phil Costley will be hoping they are capable of something close to their best as he chases the Olympic qualifying target of 2h 13m.

His 2h 14m 03s record for the flat out-and-back waterfront course could well be broken.

For the first New Zealand runner home (under 2h 19m) there is the added incentive of driving a new 3 Series BMW for a year.

The women have a similar incentive with their 2h 42m target. Lee-Ann McPhillips, fifth at last year's Commonwealth Games, will be looking for a time almost 10 minutes faster in her chase for the 2h 32m 30s Olympic qualifier.

Her battle with Gabriel O'Rourke, who is also eyeing an Olympic spot, promises to produce one of the best races of the day.

Course record-holder (at 2h 39m 03s) Tracey Clissold is back after a two-year injury break but might struggle to win this time.

The marathons also double as the New Zealand championships.

Defending half-marathon champion and course record-holder Robbie Johnston can expect plenty of competition from Richard Potts, Seaton Merridith and Britain-based Craig Kirkwood.

The marathons, and the six-leg marathon relay, start at 7am. All races start and finish at a new start-finish area near Quay Park rather than the traditional finish at the bottom of Queen St.