Top Runners Head for Huntly

Mark McKeown, Kyle Macdonald and Robbie Johnston compete for Half honours.
Ruthe, Kirkwood, Dravitski, Winton and Hyatt battle in the 10km

At least 2000 runners and their supporters will descend on Huntly this
Sunday for the 27th Huntly Retravision Half Marathon. The popular road
race and its accompanying 10km run offer more than $30,000 worth of
prizes and attract runners from all over the country. The half
marathon is traditionally well contested by top runners, and this year
the Solid Energy 10km also has a particularly exciting lineup.

The past week has seen a few changes to the lineup of elite entrants.
With Anna Hamilton switching to the 10k and Sarah Devoy yet to decide
whether she will run, the women's half marathon is wide open.
Auckland's Lesley Turner-Hall recently surprised many with a strong
Rotorua Marathon, and will seriously challenge in this event. Rowan
Baird, also from Auckland, has moved to the half marathon, her first
race at this distance, and could be a dark horse to go well.

Top placings in the men's half will be contested by Mark McKeown
(Tauranga), Kyle Macdonald (Tauranga), and Robbie Johnston (Auckland).
Formerly a top junior, McKeown was an All American while at college in
the USA, and has run several half marathons under 70 minutes. Despite
being a top contender to take the title at Huntly, McKeown will face a
strong challenge in dual Olympian Johnston, the second fastest New
Zealander ever over the 10k distance and 1994 Huntly Half Marathon
winner. Kyle Macdonald is training for the Gold Coast Marathon in July
and is also a definite podium contender.

The 10k men's race remains a major drawcard for athletics enthusiasts.
An impressive selection of New Zealand's best runners are competing,
with several using this race as a tune up for the national half
marathon championships to be held two weeks later. Dale Warrander from
New Plymouth, previously tipped as the frontrunner, has withdrawn, but
leaves a strong group of elite athletes contesting the top places.
Tauranga's Ben Ruthe, also training for the Gold Coast Marathon,
should be right up there, along with recent Rotorua Marathon winner
Craig Kirkwood. Sub 4-minute miler Gareth Hyatt is a recent addition
to the mix. Matt Dravitski from Wellington, usually a marathoner,
could well be eyeing the 30 minute mark, and with current NZ road
champion Scott Winton also a strong contender, an exciting finish
looks inevitable.

Jess Ruthe from Tauranga, NZ champion over 1500m, 10,000m and half
marathon, is still the top contender to take out the women's 10k race.
Among other runners to watch is Waikato's Camille Buscomb, who is
currently under a heavy workload preparing for the IAAF World Youth
Champs in June but has the potential to run a strong time. Auckland's
Anna Hamilton, transferring from the half, is a NZ triathlon
representative and will also be aiming for a good placing.

Outside of the elite field, the half marathon and 10k are popular with
a wide range of people from social walkers to club runners. As of
Wednesday, entry totals for the half marathon and 10k race combined
were just under 2000, with organizers expecting at least 300 more in
late entries on the day. A particularly large Huntly contingent will
be participating this year, with over 120 locals taking part. Late
entries are open on race day until 10am, at Lake Hakanoa Domain, and
the event is signposted from State Highway one. The forecast is for
fine weather, which should encourage entrants, supporters, and
spectators interested in watching some great running.

Huntly Retravision are the major sponsor of the event, with Newstalk
ZB, Waikato District Council, Smiths Sport Shoes, Solid Energy,
Mizuno, Fisher and Paykel, Blackmores and Brebner print also providing
support and spot prizes.

A detailed history of Huntly Half – 'The half marathon that
mushroomed' – can be found at
http://www.coolrunning.co.nz/races/huntlyhalf/history.html

ends

© Scoop Media