Athletics: Olympics hopeful reigns in the rain

By MURRAY McKINNON

Dale Warrander took a rain check on his preparations for the Athens Olympic Games and came away with the New Zealand marathon title, following a convincing win in the 40th anniversary Rotorua marathon.

The 30-year-old was in total control over the final 12km, out-running the experienced Phil Costley, to record a satisfying time of 2h 23m 40s.

Warrander was only after a good workout that he could recover quickly from.

He was content to sit back early in the race, undeterred by the rain that set in shortly after the start.

At the start of the hill section he took Costley with him to the front of the field and at 19km threw in the first of his "testers".

He made a slight break but 6km later, Costley was back sharing the lead.

Spurred on by the encouragement of his parents, Brian and Anne, Warrander hammered the steady uphill over the next 5km to make his break. At 30km, covered in 1h 42m 46s, he had a 21s lead over Costley.

The Tauranga-based runner, the 1996 winner, went on to extend his winning margin to nearly two minutes.

"I had to work hard to hang in there over the last 5km, I was feeling it a bit," said Warrander.

"I will have the next two to three weeks easy, before my build-up 12 weeks out from Athens."

Warrander qualified for the Olympics with his best time of 2h 12m 58s in the Japanese Fukuoka marathon five months ago.

Saturday's win was his first national marathon title, adding it to the 10km road titles won in 1994 and last year and the New Zealand cross-country title in 2000.

Costley, from Christchurch, was second in 2h 25m 56s, with Matt Dravitzki of Wellington beating an equally determined Australian visitor, Craig McKenzie from Victoria, for third in 2h 26m 55s.

Mark Bright won the world masters marathon championship, part of the race, finishing eighth overall in 2h 34m 32s.

Tracey Clissold from Gisborne, who won the national title in 1996, led from start to finish in the women's section.

The 36-year-old not only won the New Zealand title again but also the world masters' title.

Helped by the group of men she ran with during the race, Clissold recorded an impressive 2h 43m 15s.

"I had the help of the men, and Tony, whoever he is, was good support," said Clissold.

"I am totally stoked to get there, it is the first marathon in six years after having a baby and injuries."

Nyla Carroll of Papakura, three times previous winner and race record-holder with 2h 37m 37s, overcame severe cramping from 19km to finish second in 2h 46m 44s.

"I am just so happy to be able to finish," said a relieved Carroll.

Gabrielle O'Rourke of Wellington, the 1999 national champion but yet to win a Rotorua marathon, was third in 2h 49m 5s.

Notable performances in the masters' section came from 54-year-old Bernadine Portenski who finished ninth in 3h 3m 25s, and 70-year-old Sid Pavett from Tauranga who sliced more than 16 minutes off Ellis Goodyear's 70-74 age-group record with 3h 19m 51s.