Marathon lures hundreds

Athletes from around New Zealand wil assemble at Makoura College on Sunday for the annual Fagan Motors Wairarapa Country Marathon and Half Marathon.
Strong entry numbers have been recorded on previous occasions and this year's event looks set to follow that trend with almost 300 athletes already registered and another 100 expected to enter on the day.
This year's event, which takes in the Lee Pakaraka circuit, includes the Wellington Provincial Championships.
Two men stand out from the pack in the men's marathon, scheduled to begin at 7am. Wellington runners Michael Wray and Brad Monaghan, who will be running the Masterton course for the first time, are forecast to finish about the three-hour mark while the rest of the field is likely to finish anywhere from 3.20 hours onwards.
The women's marathon is harder to pick as the field contains several very experienced masters runners. Last year's winner, Hutt Valley runner Heidi Jane James, is back to defend her title but will face stiff opposition from the likes of Aucklander Ingrid Frost, Wellington's Mandy Simpson as well as Palmerston North athletes Debra Arnold and Patricia Stickbury, both of whom are regular top 3-5 finishers.
Half-marathon events, timed to begin at 9am, have attracted more than 100 entries.
In the men's event, Wellington runners Stephen Day, Tomas Bridgeman, Daniel Lawery and John Plimmer could all feature with Day possibly edging it, having an estimated time a few minutes faster than the others.
Top Masterton runner Tony Price is a starter and will use this event as part of his build up towards competing in the New York marathon in November.
The women's half marathon is likely to be dominated by Wellington athletes with Patricia Sloan, Michelle van Looy, Emma Ellis and Kerry Matthews all expected to feature.
The half-marathon walk is timed to get under way at 8am with 40 entrants already registered while the 10km run/walk has attracted 100 entrants.
Wairarapa Country Marathon trophies will be awarded to the top male and female marathon finisher. The first Wairarapa female finisher in the half marathon will receive the Bev Coley Memorial Trophy while the first male finisher will receive the Hamlin, Gregory, Turnbull Memorial Trophy at a prize giving ceremony timed for 1.30pm.