Queenstown man runs away with race

The field for the Southern Lakes half marathon sets off from near Cardrona for the finish at Wanaka on Saturday. Photo by Matt Haggart.
The field for the Southern Lakes half marathon sets off from near Cardrona for the finish at Wanaka on Saturday. Photo by Matt Haggart.
Queenstown runner Alun Williams smashed his personal best time on the way to winning the first Southern Lakes half-marathon, held in Wanaka on Saturday.

The Welshman led from start to finish to record a time of 1hr 13min 11sec - 1min 20sec faster than his previous personal best and more than four minutes clear of the next runner.

Wanaka professional triathlete Merryn Johnston was the first woman home in a time of 1hr 22min 47sec to claim sixth place overall.

She was followed home by two veteran women - Sue Cuthbert and Nicky Cameron-Dunne - who claimed second and third with sub-1hr 30min times.

Richard Hendry was the first veteran male to finish, in a time of 1hr 22min 58sec.

He was close behind Paul McNamara (1hr 17min 27sec) and Bryan Simpson (1hr 17min 54sec) who filled the minor placings in the open men's section.

The 10km road race was won by Geoff Bryne in a time of 38min 3sec, while Ailsa Rollinson won the open women's grade in 41min 33sec.

The half-marathon course started about 4km north of the Cardrona township and ran down the Cardrona Valley Rd to finish in Pembroke Park in Wanaka.

Results.
Southern Lakes half-marathon

-Open men: Alun Williams 1hr 13min 11sec, 1; Paul McNamara 1hr 17min 27sec, 2; Bryan Simpson, 1hr 17min 54sec, 3.

-Veteran men: Richard Hendry 1hr 22min 58sec, 1; John Speck 1hr 34min 17sec, 2; Shokit Ali 1hr 42min 28sec, 3.

-Masters men: Peter Tutty 1hr 27min 36sec, 1; James Park 1hr 29min 51sec, 2; Dai Cowx 1hr 33min 37sec, 3.

-Open women: Merryn Johnstonm 1hr 22min 47sec, 1; Ruby Morgan, 1hr 31min 48sec, 2; Nicole Walker 1hr 32min 48sec, 3.

-Veteran women: Sue Cuthbert 1hr 24min 31sec, 1; Nicky Cameron-Dunn 1hr 29min 19sec, 2; Janet Young, 1hr 30min 39sec, 3.

-Masters women: Marjon Mckenzie 1hr 37min 14sec, 1; Lesley Meade 2hr 7min 52sec, 2. 10km road race

-Open men: Geoff Byrne 38min 3sec, 1; Mike Horne 39min 28sec, 2; Adrian Christie 40min 30sec, 3.

-Veteran men: Gene Sanderson 41min 33sec, 1; Christopher O'Kane 38min 41sec, 2; Dave Stuart 46min 47sec, 3.

-Open women: Ailsa Rollinson 41min 53sec, 1; Monique Francois 45min 48sec, 2; Samantha Owles 46min 09sec, 3.

-Veteran women: Julie Wilson 39min 39sec, 1; Carol Chettleburgh 42min 6sec, 2; Karen Thomas 50min 21sec, 3.