Athletics: Tight contest on cards in Rotorua marathon

By Murray McKinnon


The 45th running of the annual Rotorua marathon on Saturday promises to be one of the closest races for some time, with rookies Jonathan Wyatt and John Henwood taking on seasoned performers Phil Costley and Mark Hutchinson.

The World mountain-running champion Wyatt, although having entered a month ago, decided only this week to compete. He will be treating it more as a training outing, but with his vast background of experience and mileage running, will be hard to beat in his first attempt at the 42.2km distance.

"I will be going to Rotorua to do my own thing. How fast I go will depend on what the day is like, but I will be making an honest attempt," Wyatt said.

Wyatt, the New Zealand cross-country champion, believes the dark horse in the race will be his training partner from Wellington, Henwood, the tall Scottish club harrier who is a former New Zealand half-marathon champion and the reigning national road champion.

"John is now coached by Graham Tattersall and is doing a lot more quality miles and is very fit at the moment," Wyatt said.

Costley, from Hastings, the winner in 1997, comes fresh from a record-breaking half-marathon in Queenstown at Easter of 64m 59s.

"This race is not a major focus for me, but an opportunity to burn out over the marathon distance," Costley said. "The Auckland marathon in October is the biggie for me with the Sydney Olympics in mind.

Hutchinson, from the Bays Cougars club and winner last year, finished 42nd in 2h 22m in the recent London marathon and will be hoping to make up for what he described as a disappointing result.

"With four past winners in the field it should be a great race. I will be playing it by ear early and hope to come through later," he said.

"Rotorua is a great leveller. You have to have done the training and know how to run it."

Another win for Hutchinson would equal Jack Foster's record of four victories on the Rotorua course.

David Rush, the 1993 winner, and the New Plymouth winner this year, Seaton Meredith, should feature in the top 10.

Maree Bunce is out to repeat her 1993 victory in the women's section.
"I'm going out for the win," she said. "I want to get the feel of the marathon again and then later go for a fast time by blasting out on a fast course, possibly Chicago in October."

The perennial favourite of Rotorua, Wellington's Bernie Portenski will again give a gutsy performance. Three times a winner, she admits that at 49 she is not quite as fit as her winning performance last year.

Also expected to be up with the pace is Megan Edhouse, second last year, and Lisa Galvan, fourth in the recent Canberra marathon in 2h 49m.

The cry of "Bring back Buck" will no doubt be heard as former All Black captain and North Harbour rugby coach Wayne Shelford makes his way with 3173 others around the lake.