Athletics: Shattered Hunter-Galvan 51st in marathon

7.25am - By MARK GEENTY

ATHENS - A dazed Liza Hunter-Galvan recounted one of her most harrowing experiences as she staggered over the line 51st in the Olympic women's marathon today.

US-based Hunter-Galvan's time of two hours 50 minutes and 23 seconds was 14 minutes outside her personal best, run earlier this year, but there was a good reason.

The sapping 30degC evening heat and a steady hill climb early in the race made for a course -- the original from the modern Olympics in 1896 -- which New Zealand athletics coach Tony Rogers described as "horrific".

Sixteen of the field of 82 failed to finish.

"I feel like I'm lucky to be alive after that," Hunter-Galvan told NZPA, 30 minutes after she was assisted to the medical room.

British gold medal favourite Paula Radcliffe pulled out 6km short of the 42km finish line at the historic Panathinaikos Stadium, which was dominated by Union Jack flags expecting a Radcliffe victory.

Japan's Mizuki Noguchi won the race in 2hr 26min 20sec, 11min short of Radcliffe's world record, and had 12sec to spare over second placed Ethiopian Catherine Ndereba.

Hunter-Galvan, the first New Zealand woman to contest the marathon since Lorraine Moller in Barcelona in 1992, got a rousing reception as she entered the stadium and waved to the crowd on her final lap.

She finished with a big grin but barely able to stand, and an official helped her to the medical room where she was given fluid and food. She was quickly back on her feet.

"It was so hard, the first 8km was kind of flat but it was super hot, then we started into some rolling hills and people were dropping already.

"At about 15km I had a bit of a lull, but I kept on trucking and eased off a bit because I was so determined to finish."

She said watching her opponents pull out made her even more determined.

"Everyone that drops, I beat. I started to count them, but after 12 I stopped counting.

"Just for a split second I thought I wouldn't finish, but I'm pretty tough, I've had four children."

- NZPA