Kerikeri and the "Mo"

And that is a Picture of my "Mo" 17 days into Movember. It is pathetic I know but it is for a good cause! Just getting my act together and I will be back later in the week with New News to share!

I also received some international press from the race

KERIKERI

Kim Hogarth of Nelson and Hanny Allston of Auckland were convincing winners of the New Zealand half marathon titles based on the annual Kerikeri event on Saturday. Hogarth powered his way to victory ahead of a record number of 2600 entrants. Stephen Lett winner of the Northland race in 2005 led for the first 3km before Hogarth lengthened his stride on the uphill to 7km and on the sweeping downhill to 10km. The 32 year old had established a commanding lead by 15km and carried on to record a time of 1h 8m 16s, over two minutes ahead of Lett. Hogarth said the race had drained him. It's a deceiving course and there was a bit of wind, which made it pretty slow, but I shouldn't be winning a New Zealand title in 68m," said Hogarth. He added that he will still stick to the steeplechase on the track, an event he has won four national titles and went close to qualifying in for the Beijing Olympic Games. "I also want to run reasonable times over 5000m and I'll do more 1500m races to improve the raw speed that was missing in trying to qualify," he said. Hogarth had previously won the national half marathon title in 2005. Lett said that it was a bit windier than other years. "I decided to make a bit of pace from the start, but Kim is really quick on those downhills," he said. Robbie Johnston, the 40-44 age group winner was third in 1h 11m 16s. Third in the open national championship was Michael Petrina in 1h 11m 50s.

Allston added the half to the New Zealand full marathon title won in Rotorua earlier this year, before she returns to Melbourne. The Australian and 2006 world sprint and junior orienteering champion has finished a degree in Auckland and the lure of a holiday in the Bay of Islands was too great before she returns on 3 December. Ady Ngawati of Whangarei led up to 18km before Allston swept past. "I got into the race and felt right, I made new friends on the way and had good crowd support," said Allston who recorded 1h 17m 49s. Ngawati the Auckland marathon winner two weeks ago, improved on her third place last year by over two minutes finishing in 1h 18m 51s. "The only way I know how to run is to run hard at the start, it was good but at 18km all I saw was this greyhound sweep past me," said Ngawati. Melissa Norris, in the 35-39 age group was delighted with her third place in a personal best by two minutes of 1h 21m 55s. Third in the open women championship went to Erin Whitla of Dunedin in 1h 21m 58s. Lee Warn warmed up for the wheelchair section by completing the 21.1km from Kerikeri to the start at Okaihau arriving five minutes before the start. His time to the start was 1h 51m and in the race clocked 1h 31m 2s.

Men.- Kim Hogarth (Nelson) 1h 8m 16s 1, Stephen Lett (Takapuna) 1h 10m 27s 2, Robbie Johnston (Akld Univ) 1h 11m 16s 3, Michael Petrina (Takapuna) 1h 11m 50s