By MURRAY McKINNON
Hawera dairy farmer Alastair Snowden could well spring his second marathon running surprise this year in Sunday's race across the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
In the Rotorua marathon in April, 34-year-old Snowden came from nowhere to chase Phil Costley all the way to the finish, taking second place a minute back in 2h 24m 9s.
Costley will not be defending his New Zealand title in the BMW marathon on Sunday, leaving the way clear for Snowden to battle out the honours with wily campaigner Mark Hutchinson.
A late starter in marathon running after a background of multisport and mountain running, including seven Coast-to-Coast races Snowden said everything was pointing towards a personal best time.
"I'm working on a time of 2h 17m. All the training has gone well and the time trials are what they should be," Snowden said yesterday.
The silver medallist in the New Zealand 10,000m championship in March had an encouraging 10,000m race in Wellington a fortnight ago in which he finished second to John Henwood in 30m 36s.
Hutchinson, from North Harbour, is aiming at a slower 2h 28m because he is targeting a faster time in his final marathon race, in Honolulu in six weeks.
"I've decided on one final, full-on effort, and Honolulu appeals," he said.
With two national marathon titles to his credit, in 1992 and 1998, Hutchinson will switch his attention to triathlons, where he will still face the marathon distance in the ironman competition.
Melissa Moon, from the Scottish Club in Wellington, starts her campaign towards the marathon at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games with every chance of winning the women's section.
Moon is delighted that there are 5000 runners taking part in the marathon and half-marathon.
"Good numbers inspire people to run fast times," said Moon, who had a low patch after returning from the world mountain-running championships in Germany.
"Over the last two weeks I've come right. I've done the base work and each run is feeling stronger," she said.
Alan Bunce and Robbie Johnston should provide a close race in the half-marathon, as should Gabrielle O'Rourke and Nyla Carroll in the women's half-marathon.
Both events start at Bayswater Marina at 6.30 am and finish at Quay Park in the city.
Running: Farmer hot tip in marathon
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