Novice wins big marathon

Press, 4 December 1978, Page 30

Novice wins big marathon

A hockey player, aged 19, 1 won the D.B. Great c Westland marathon in his first attempt at the distance i on Saturday. t Bruce Radovonich, running < on a smin handicap took the I lead at the halfway mark I and finished in 3h 28min 255. i He had been training for 1 four months, averaging 1 80km a week, under the 1 guidance of the cyclistrunner, Ross Bush. 1 Radovonich is a former i New Zealand primary-school ( hockey representative and t last season played for s Linwood United senior B. I West Coast runners, perhaps able to cope with I the warm, humid conditions I better than the many < Christchurch runners, filled '

four of the first six places on handicap. The temperature was at its highest for the day while the race was being run. But an hour after the last of the 250 starters had finished at Hokitika, rain began to fall. Merv Austin (St Martins), starting from 95min behind the front markers, came through the field to record the fastest time of 2h 32min 28s. He judged his pace well letting the fellow back marker, Dave Rowell (University), get up to a minute ahead in the eatly stages but catching him by half way. A good tussle developed between Olympic’s John Macdonald and Gary Clarke and Nelson’s S. Watts. Watts was the first to drop

from the pace but when Macdonald moved away slightly from Clarke, Watts overtook Clarke and ran shoulder to shoulder with Macdonald, who edged Watts out by 20s.

Kathryn Ball (Christchurch) started behind more than 150 runners on a handicap of 47min but came through the field well to record the fastest women’s time of 3h 31min 575. A higher proportion of women than men finished the event.

Sam McArthur (Nelson) and Tom Bain (Christchurch), both aged more than 65, finished without undue stress. Others many years their junior were down to a walk and'

some suffered minor side effects from dehydration. St John ambulances and mobile patrols kept an eye on the runners. Results:

Open handicap (actual times): B. Radovonich (Olympic), 3:28:25, 1; K. Stupples (St Martins), 3:22:12, 2; P. Gilroy (Westport), 3:10:50, 3; M. Keenan (Hokitika), K. Roberts (Hokitika), 3:30:0, equal four; T. Fortune (Reefton), 2:44:5. 6.

Fastest times: M. Austin (St Martins), 2:32:28, 1: J. K. Macdonald (Olympic) 2:33:15, 2; S. Watts (Nelson), 2:33:35. 3; G. Clarke (Olympic), 2:34:22. 4; J. Shedclan (Olympic), 2:35:50. 5; D. Rowell (University), 2:36:43, 6. Fastest women: K. Ball (Christchurch), 3:31:57, 1; E. Lee (Westport), 3:57:27, 2: B. Phillips (Westport), 3; D. Stead (Graystead), 4:13:40, 4; A. Simmoqs (Rovers), 4:14:37, 5; S. Richardson (Trafalgar). 4:18:25, 6. Veteran men.—Over 40: J. K. Macdonald (Olympic), 1. Over 60: T. Bain, 3:28:0, 1.