Mayo runs hot in Turakina race

ATHLETICS:"I'm overheating." They were the first words from Wanganui runner Neil Mayo as he finished the Turakina Road Race in first place.
The last man to start on handicap, Mayo went past all his fellow competitors in the individual run to take both the St Andrews Shield for the fastest time and Ben Nevis Cup for first individual home.
Considering the oppressively hot conditions Mayo was happy with the time of 1 hour 53 minutes 54 seconds for the 27km race, although it was about five minutes slower than his second place effort last year.
"I had similar times until coming on to the Marton to Wanganui road but then I slowed a bit," Mayo told the Chronicle after the race.
"I wasn't quite pacing it right for the heat."
In the handicap race Mayo managed to overhaul Warren Mant not far from home, with Mant finishing 21 seconds behind.
Third on handicap was Marton's Kathleen Murphy.
The second fastest on the day was Ashhurst's Bill Kelly in 2.02.40 while Mant was 3rd fastest in 2.08.15. Fastest woman was Wanganui's Gai Marie Smart in 2.26.44. Unloading heat was they key to putting in a competitive effort.
"My kidney pouch camel back is the best system I have come across to keep hydrated," Mayo said
"It was slightly hotter than two years ago when it was really hot.
"The tar was actually melting out there today."
Even with the stifling heat the race saw entries more than double from last year, with close to 100 people turning out for a combination of the walking, running and teams events.
The biggest numbers were in the two-person walk teams, where 14 teams made up the grade.
In the individual walk Palmerston North's Alan McKey was successful in the handicap event having a comfortable 10 minute buffer over Marton's Cheryl and Wayne Hunt.
Fastest individual walker was Wanganui's Peter Green in 3.16.21.
In the highly competitive two-person walk teams event Palmerston North's Andrus Lei tore out of the blocks to hand Lisa McDonald the challenge of wearing down Masterton's Peter Tearle and Helen Henwood, which she eventually did with over a minute to spare. Third place was equally as competitive as the Palmerston North pair of Melissa Young and Denise Brunskill held off the fast finishing Michelle Lei and Julie Griffin combination by only 13 seconds. Fastest duet was the Lei/McDonald pairing who recorded 2.44.06.