Alex Parlane led a lonely path around the Huntly half marathon course, winning as he liked in 1h 12m 38s. The former national cross country champion clocked a personal best in the windy conditions finishing a minute ahead of his Wesley Club team mate Tom Moyes. Tom Hunt was third in 1h 15m 38s.
Although on his own for most of the journey Parlane still found it tough.
“I had some company for the first 3km and then just got into my work, those hills were tough in the second half and it was a windy day especially the last 8km just into a head wind. I’m still in a build-up so I’m pretty happy to win and it is a PB for me, my last PB was here two years ago (1:13:43 [3] ),” he said.
The 25 year old is heading to Europe in July where he hopes to reduce his 5000m track time.
The first three runners went the correct 21.1km course but from fourth to eightieth veered off course around the 7km mark and in most cases ran an extra 2km.
Lisa Robertson was one of these, but still came through to win the women’s section by five minutes over Esther Keown with a further two minutes to Fiona Love.
“I was supposed to do an hour thirty five run today so I nearly did it. Oh well that’s the way it goes, you’ve just got to keep going,” said Robertson.
Robertson would have run well under 1h 20m. Robertson who marries in July in Rarotonga is aiming for the full marathon distance in Auckland in November.
Donna Roderick won the half marathon walk in 2:08:49. The 10km went to Sasha Daniels 35:35, from John Bowe 35:49, Emerson Deverell was the first woman in 39:22. Marcia Soanes won the 10km walk in 1:08:49. The 5km was won by Charlie Miller in 17:22, with Hannah Haworth the first woman in 19:29. Just on a thousand took part in the half marathon with 1951 competing over all events.
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