Athletics: Newcomer outsprints old campaigner in half-marathon

By MURRAY MCKINNON

An unknown, Scott Winton, sprang a big surprise to win the annual Huntly half-marathon yesterday.

The 27-year-old drug representative called on all his reserves to out-kick regular campaigner Kerry Rodger in a sprint finish.

Winton's winning time was 1h 7m 30s.

A former Beachlands Maraetai runner, who received his early training and motivation from Arthur Lydiard, Winton spent five years in Britain before returning to Auckland via Australia and joining the Counties Manukau club.

He was surprised at the result of only his third half-marathon.

"I haven't done much racing, just long runs," Winton said.

"It was a tight finish and I just sprinted after Kerry had earlier tried to go for it."

For the first 14km, on a new circuit on the eastern side of Huntly, Winton, Rodger, Alan Meredith and Phil Clode were in a bunch chasing Ross Wilson.

After Wilson called it a day, the race was down to three - Winton, Rodger and Meredith.

In the end Meredith was left to savour a personal best of 1h 7m 38s for third and Lynndale runner Rodger had to bow to Winton's speed, taking second just 2s behind. At 40, he was the first veteran.

Nyla Carroll had the women's section to herself, winning in 1h 16m 2s.

Lynndale club mate Stacey Madgwick was second and the first veteran in 1h 22m 41s. Rotorua marathon winner Eveline Coombe was third.

Carroll, a police constable based in Manurewa on youth education, has rekindled an interest in marathons.

Her goal is the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.

"I will run the Christchurch marathon [in two weeks] to get the feel for it again and then some cross-country races before another marathon," she said.

Carroll, 36, is now coached by a former American Olympic marathon runner, Pete Pfitzinger.