Athletics: Bright takes national title in slowest race in 31 years

By MURRAY McKINNON

Mark Bright was the surprise winner of the national marathon title in Rotorua after finishing second to Japanese runner Katsumi Tsuchiya.

The title was based on the Fletcher Challenge event.

"I didn't know about the New Zealand title until I had finished," he said on Saturday.

The 38-year-old from Auckland's Lynndale Club was through to second at 30km after cramp forced race favourite Alastair Snowdon to stop.

Snowdon finished seventh in 2h 39m 04s.

The humid conditions ruled out any records. Tsuchiya won in 2h 25m 59s, the slowest time since Mike Ryan won the event with 2h 26m 40s in 1971.

However, Tsuchiya, 27, had the satisfaction of being the first overseas runner to win at Rotorua.

Bright, who recorded 2h 29m 23s, is a past New Zealand 100km title holder.

"My goal now is to compete at the world 100km championships in Belgium in June," he said.

Kerry Rodger, third in 2h 34m 05s, was the first master home.

Auckland's Evelyn Coombe won the women's section, coming from behind to pass a tiring Bernie Portenski over the final 4km.

Since arriving from Germany and taking up running, Coombe has not registered with a club and was therefore not able to take the national title. Her time was 3m 00m 18s.

Portenski, just over a minute behind Coombe in 3h 1m 35s, is the new champion, regaining the title won in 1998. Her Wellington Scottish team-mate and sister Michelle Allison was third in 3h 04m 42s.