11.01.2010

Records fall in Hobart

The racing was fast and furious for the 27th running of the Cadbury Marathon at the weekend, where two course records were set on a big day of action on the Apple Isle.

Australian Flame representative Mark Tucker (Vic) and Canberra’s Scott McTaggart each posted course record times to secure comfortable wins in the half marathon and marathon events and etch their names into the race history books. 

While the rest of the country sweltered, some of the nation’s best distance runners took advantage of ideal conditions along the Hobart course to post strong performances in what is rapidly becoming one of the fastest marathon courses in the country.

Inspired by strong support from the crowd lining the opening stages of the course, Tucker built up a sizeable lead in the early part of the 21.1km event. 

Moving through the first 5km in under 15 minutes and covering 10km in 30:30, the Geelong runner was on track to better the course record of 66 minutes from the gun.  

Tucker, who placed 47th in the marathon at the IAAF world championships in Berlin in August, said the weekend’s course record was always in his sights.

“I was really going for it early on as I wanted to get under the course record. I haven’t run a half marathon for a while, so I was keen to have a red hot go,” he said.

Tucker’s winning time of 1:05.35 smashed the existing course record and was the fastest half marathon recorded in Tasmania since the mid-1980s. 

The victory continues Tucker’s run of form in the southern state, the distance specialist now the reigning title-holder of the Launceston Ten, Burnie Ten and Cadbury half marathon events. Next month he will aim to add the Hobart Run the Bridge crown to his already impressive list of accolades.

Defending half marathon champion David Thomas was the first Tasmanian home, finishing second in 1:09.08, with Bruce Graham of Canberra in third (1:13.04). In crossing the line Graham also collected the Australian masters half marathon crown, the masters titles being held in conjunction with the Cadbury half marathon for the first time.

In the women’s field it was Sandra Prosenica who took line honours, the Victorian securing her second major event in a week after winning the Rip to River run on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula last weekend. 

A late surge saw Prosenica (1:20.42) cross the line just 40 seconds ahead of Adelaide’s Claire Ashworth, second in 1:21.22. Hanny Allston took out the Tasmanian title in third place, the local runner using the race as a training run for this Sunday’s world cross country trials at Brimbank Park (Vic).

Running his first marathon in two years, Scott McTaggart set out with the goal of bettering Colin Oliver’s course record of 2:23.59, set back in 1995. Despite the strong field, which included former winners David Criniti (2009) and Jarrod Shaw (2008), McTaggart went straight to the lead and never looked back.

McTaggart’s winning time of 2:23.40 was the fastest time by an Australian in Australia since the Gold Coast marathon in July last year. 

“The fact that I ran by myself from the gun and went that fast is really pleasing,” McTaggart said.

The 32-year-old has a personal best time of 2:21.19 and yesterday’s result has invigorated hope that his ultimate marathon goal of running under 2:20.00 is still achievable.  
“I’m glad that I pushed myself hard and it’s a good omen that I might one day break 2:20,” he said.

Criniti took out second place in 2:29.57, just two seconds shy of the time he ran to win last year’s race. Sydney’s Anthony Faruggia claimed third, with Jarrod Shaw the first Tasmanian home in 2:36.40.

The women’s marathon title went to Brisbane’s Sharon Ryder, who in her first appearance at the Cadbury marathon ran the race of her life to set a new personal best time of 3:01.24.

“I didn’t expect to win but I’m over the moon that I did. It was actually lots of fun, I had a great time out there,” Ryder said.

Georgie Moore (3:14.08) from New South Wales was second over the line, less than a minute ahead of Meghan Johnston in 3:15.00.

Close to 150 runners lined up for the 42.2km journey, a record field for the race.

The distance community will now turn its attention to the world cross country trials at Brimbank Park (Vic) this Sunday, January 17.

Check out the FoxSports highlights package of the 2010 Cadbury Marathon here.