Ben Ruthe will be running to win the Auckland Marathon tomorrow.
The Tauranga runner had to settle for second last year after eventually being outrun by Matt Smith of Christchurch with 9km to go. Ruthe, who recorded 2h 22m 11s, is coy about what time he will run
this time.
"It depends on the competition, as I am going for the win," said Ruthe.
Competition in the race should come from Grant McLean of Wellington and Steve O'Callaghan of Rotorua.
McLean is a formidable marathon runner having won the Wellington event for the past four years in a row, clocking 2h 37m 14s for his win in June this year.
O'Callaghan has progressed well as a senior since winning the New Zealand junior 5000m title in 2000. He was fourth in the New Zealand road championships in Hamilton last month running 31m 30s for the 10km.
Ady Ngawati of Whangarei returns to defend her women's title. Ngawati ran 2h 49m 15s last year and in the Rotorua marathon earlier this year she was fourth in 2h 55m 12s. Challenging Ngawati will be 2005 winner Sharon Fitzgerald and recent Lydiard Legend marathon winner Lara Phillips. Dale Warrander, five times Auckland half-marathon winner and twice victor in the full marathon will start favourite for the half marathon this year. Warrander won the half in 2005 in a snappy 62m 51s and was out on his own again last year, winning in 66m 52s.
