News
Westcott, Flint to lead trans-Tasman showdown
World championships marathon representative
Scott Westcott and newly-nominated Commonwealth
Games athlete Lisa Flint will this weekend take on
the Christchurch half marathon (NZL), where trans-Tasman bragging
rights will be up for grabs for the two rival nations' top
distance runners.
Four days out from the event this Sunday, June 6, race organisers
are expecting close to 6000 competitors to take to the start line
of one of the five race distances on offer, including a quality
contingent of Australian hopefuls lining up for the gruelling
42.195km event that could help push the field towards the fastest
marathon run in New Zealand for more than 10 years.
The men's half marathon field see defending champion and
Australian Flame representative Scott Westcott return to action,
where he will face strong opposition from former Christchurch half
marathon winners Phil Costley, Mark Bailey and Dale Warrander,
formerly of New Plymouth but now living on the Gold Coast. Also
worth watching will be Australian Ben Toomey, who
makes his debut over the half marathon distance with impressive
track credentials to his name.
Delhi-bound runner Lisa Flint will travel to Christchurch looking
for a fast time over the women's half marathon course in
preparation for the Commonwealth Games marathon in October this
year. On the start line she will meet Shireen Crumpton, a former
winner of both the half and full marathon races in
Christchurch.
Flint will be joined on the course by Tasmanian former world
orienteering champion Hanny Allston, who made her
mark in mainstream running three years ago when she won the
Melbourne, Canberra and Rotorua marathons all in the same
year.
In the men's marathon field, local favourites for the title
will include 2008 winner Matt Smith and dual title-holder Matt
Dravitzki, who took out the event in 2003 and 2005. Both will be
keen for a solid performance in Christchurch this weekend after
disappointing runs in the 2009 edition of the event, where Smith
was well beaten in the half marathon and Dravitzki failed to finish
the full marathon.
Standing in their way will be a talented group of marathon
debutants from both sides of the Tasman including Christchurch’s
Luke Hurring and Melbourne’s Erwin McRae, who take
to the full 42.195km course for the first time but have credentials
over the half marathon distance that should see them challenge the
race leaders.
Last month a Kiwi and an Ethiopian-turned-Aussie showed they will
be worth keeping an eye on this weekend, former Christchurch runner
Jason Woolhouse and 22-year-old Wondwosen Gelata,
an Ethiopian granted Australian refugee status 18 months ago, set
to reprise the battle they started at the Great Ocean Road Running
Festival in May.
In the women's field Australians are again expected to set the
pace, with reigning national half marathon champion Magda
Karimali-Poulos to start favourite for the women’s
marathon title following a stellar 2009 that saw her win the
Canberra, M7 Cities and Perth marathons, place third in the
Melbourne marathon and post a perosnal best time of 2:40.54.
With trans-Tasman rivalries on the line, the stage is set for an emotion-charged showdown in Christchurch this weekend. For further details see www.sbsmarathon.co.nz.
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletters to keep up to date with Athletics in Australia.
More Headlines
