Scott Winton, Pakuranga wins the 45th Lion Foundation 2009
Rotorua Marathon after the local runner Steven O'Callaghan
fell while leading only metres from the finish line,
Rotorua, New Zealand, Saturday, May 02, 2009. Credit:NZPA /
Peter Graney..
Auckland runner Scott Winton won the Rotorua marathon
following dramatic scenes just metres out from the finish line
today.
The race looked set to be won by unheralded Rotorua athlete
Steven O'Callaghan before the exhausted runner stumbled and
crashed to the ground about five strides short of the tape.
Aucklander Winton, who was 5m behind O'Callaghan at the time,
couldn't believe his luck and crossed to add to his 2006
title.
Local hero O'Callaghan received a rousing cheer as he
clambered back to his feet and crossed just 6sec behind
Winton's winning time of two hours 27 minutes 14 seconds.
Winton, who has been training at altitude in Kenya, was full
of praise for his rival.
"What a great race. He just kept his cool and was pretty
patient," Winton told TV3.
"He made what I thought was a pretty decisive break at 8km
(from the finish)."
Third place went to Tauranga's Iain Macdonald, nearly 2min
down on Winton.
The women's race was won by Lara Phillips of Christchurch,
adding to the national mountain running title she claimed
this month.
Phillips' time of 2hr 55min 49sec was nearly 1min clear of
Wellington's Victoria Humphries, with Melissa Norris of
Auckland third.
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