New champions to be found

Two new national half marathon champions will emerge from the Huntly half marathon on Sunday. The 30th anniversary of the race also doubles as this year’s New Zealand half marathon championship. There is no clear favourite in either the men’s or women’s fields.

Jonny McKee, Iain Macdonald, Stephen Smith and Paul Hamblyn along with under 20 runners Jonathon Jackson and Aaron Pulford should take up the front running and go on to battle out the major placings. Also in the hunt will be off road champion James Kuegler.

Macdonald won at Huntly in 2008 in 68m 17s, with McKee second in 69m 2s.

Lesley Turner Hall winner at Huntly last year in 1h 22m 53s returns ready to add the national crown to her successes over the longer distances on the road over the past three years.

Nyla Carroll will be seeking her first half marathon title. Others likely to be in with a chance are Sarah Devoy, Maria Bentley, Helen Rountree, Lisa Robertson and under 20 off road champion Ruby Muir. Carroll won the Huntly half in 2008 in 1h 15m 19s.

The national championship has been previously held at Huntly in 1998 and 2005. Richard Potts won in 1998 in 1h 5m 25s. Susan Michelsson of Australia won the women’s section in 1998 with the national title going to Gabrielle O’Rourke in 1h 14m 47s.

British runner Tom Mayo, who is now the CEO of the World Rowing Championships at Karapiro in November, won in 2005 in 1h 7m 51s with Kim Hogarth taking the title in 1h 8m 58s. Nicole Cope won the women’s title in 2005 in 1h 15m 47s.