MARATHON - No half measures

The 2008 Fullers Kerikeri Half Marathon broke new ground on Saturday with the first-ever staging of clydesdale and filly running divisions in New Zealand competition.
The new heavyweight divisions, based on a US-based initiative, cater for people with larger frames who feel they don't get to compete on level terms against smaller, lighter runners.
Overall, 72 runners from Auckland to Kaitaia competed in the nine divisions, with Northland competitors dominating the results.
In the filly events, the 60-64.9kg division was won comfortably by Kerikeri's Cheryl Schofield in a time of 2h 4m 35s with Kerikeri's Olivia Wadman coming home in third place.
The 65kg class proved the most competitive, with Kaitaia athlete Catherine Seminoff-Murray scorching around the course in 1:39:40, within two minutes of the fastest time recorded in the world this year by US sensation Erin Fitzpatrick. Kerikeri's Paula O'Brien finished strongly for third.
In the 70kg division Kaeo's Robyn Tauroa (2:09:58) won in a good time from Waitangi battler Tracey Ostick.
The men's clydesdale divisions, like the women's events, also produced winners in their 30s and 40s. Kaikohe runner Daniel Gamble took out the junior clydesdale event and Mark Anderson, also from Kaikohe, the 90-94.9kg class. The next class up was won by Whangarei's Craig Johnston in a credible time of 1:37:12 ahead of Kaeo's Ian Herbert.
The 100kg division was the most fiercely contested with 14 entrants. Well-muscled giant, Alan Murray, recorded a world-class performance with a sensational 1:35:22, which would have been good enough for him to have won his class in this year's glamour clydesdale event, the Sheraton Hyannis Half Marathon, in the US by seven minutes.
Murray, well into his 40s, had a real battle with Whangarei's David Lenssen, who is some 20 years his junior. Lenssen led early only to be passed by Murray with less than 5km to go.
The 110kg class had a similar scenario, with the older athlete, Shane Speight from Whangarei, having too much determination over the last few kilometres to hold off fast-finishing Andrew Bloomfield in a time of 2:07:07.
The positive feedback from the clydesdale and filly entrants, and their commitment to continuing to support this concept, bodes well for its inclusion in future running events in Northland.