Athletics: Rotorua marathon

Rotorua marathon Maree Turner overcame a week of influenza to win the New Zealand women's marathon at Rotorua.

The Parnell runner, who competes for Bays Cougars, timed her run to perfection, overtaking early leader Karen File, of Gisborne, at 27km and completing the 42.2km in 2h 55m 40s.

Turner, who previously won at Rotorua in 1993, added the marathon title to the national half marathon she won in 1991.

"I had the flu all week and I am still suffering," said an exhausted 37-year-old Turner. "I'd forgotten how much pain there is in a marathon, but it all came back to me over the final 10km."

Amazing 53-year-old Bernie Portenski, from the Wellington Scottish Club, charged through for second in 2h 59m 50s, with File just holding on to third.

Todd Stevens, from Wellington Scottish, won the men's event in a slow 2h 30m 9s.

The 33-year-old had the lead by the start of the tough hill section at 18km, and held on despite a persistent head wind on the run back into Rotorua.

Mark Bright, of Lynndale, the defending national marathon champion, claimed second in 2h 32m 14s.

Craig Barrett, of Hamilton, walked the distance in 3h 26m 45s, while Sid Pavett, a 69-year-old from Tauranga, broke the 65-69 age group record by over two minutes with a time of 3h 8m 23s.

Scottish won the men's and women's team titles.