Athletics: Olympian clear favourite for Rotorua marathon

Dale Warrander wants to use the run as a stepping stone for the Gold Coast marathon in July. Picture / Bay of Plenty Times

Athens Olympian Dale Warrander should have the Rotorua Marathon to himself in the annual run around the lake tomorrow morning.

Warrander won the race in 1996 in 2h 21m 47s, and last year cruised to victory in 2h 23m 40s, beating Phil Costley by two minutes.

"I'm looking forward to it. I will run my own pace and see how it goes," he said.

"I want to come through it unscathed and use it as the next stepping stone, after the Queenstown marathon, for a fast time in the Gold Coast marathon in July."

The 31-year-old's expected finishing time is four minutes faster than that of Japan's Yasunori Yamamoto and Auckland's Joe Piggin.

Warrander, of Tauranga, is disappointed that his time in winning the Auckland marathon last October cannot be accepted for selection to the world championships in Helsinki in August. Unfortunately the course was not certified as being measured to the accepted international standards.

Warrander has now decided to concentrate on making the Melbourne Commonwealth Games next March.

"Gold Coast is potentially a fast course and I want to run under 2h 13m there."

The standard set for selection to Melbourne is 2h 15m.

Joanna Gemmell, from Onehunga, has the fastest estimated women's time, at three hours.

The 27-year-old Auckland lawyer has run Rotorua for the last three years and has a best time of 3h 13m.

"It is hard, but I love running at Rotorua, it is great fun," said Gemmell.

Melanie Burke of Waiheke Island is having her first attempt at the marathon and has an estimated time of 3h 8m. The former New Zealand rowing representative has been running competitively for a year and in the recent Nike women's 8km road race in Auckland finished fourth.

She also completed the half marathon in New Plymouth last month in 1h 23m.

Bernie Portenski, of Wellington, who has become synonymous with the Rotorua event, has returned with her sights firmly set on securing the 55-59 age group record. With her name alongside three age group race records, she is keen to run under the race record for her latest age group. Portenski who has 22 Rotorua races under her belt has estimated a time of 3h 12m.

A total of 1800 have entered in the Lion Foundation-sponsored marathon with a further 750 entered in the 5km and 10km fun runs.