Athletics: Champion chasing own goals

Mel Aitken will chase both a rare double and an impressive threepeat when she competes in the Dunedin marathon tomorrow.

Aitken is aiming to win the Otago women's title for a third straight year, and add to the Otago half-marathon title she won in June.

She has gone from strength to strength since she ran her first marathon in Christchurch in June 2012.

Three months after her debut, she knocked 7min off her time to win the Dunedin open women's race in an impressive 3hr 12min 49sec.

She returned to the course last year to defend her title but found herself up against international ironman Candice Hammond.

Although Aitken remained in touch for most of the way, she eventually had to yield marathon honours to Hammond, who won in 3hr 2min 28sec.

Aitken crossed for second in 3hr 9min 17sec. As Hammond was not registered with Athletics Otago, the Otago open women's title fell to Aitken.

Just as last year's race was a classic, this year's 42.2km journey around Otago Harbour from Harington Point to Port Chalmers is shaping nicely.

In order to defend the Otago crown and regain honours on the course, Aitken must overcome three-time champion Sarah Chisnall.

Chisnall won the event in 2006, as a 22-year-old in her first marathon, clocking 2hr 55min 7sec.

She backed that up with a silver medal in the New Zealand championships six months later, then clocked 2hr 43min 19sec to win the women's title at the Christchurch marathon.

A month later, she won the women's title at the New Zealand mountain running championships and gained selection for the world championships in Switzerland.

But since that run of success seven years ago, it has been a tale of mixed fortunes for Chisnall. Her successes in 2009 and 2010 in the Cadbury-sponsored Dunedin marathon stand out in a period blighted by injury.

''It's just been a roller coaster of broken bones, stress fractures, accidents and stuff,'' Chisnall said.

''I don't have anywhere near the fitness that I did then. I'm just grateful of being able to run these days, and enjoy what I do.''

While hoping to break through the 3hr barrier, she said her main goal was to just finish.

''For me it might be a new personal worst,'' she said, smiling.

''I'm just hoping to get to the finish with no broken body bits. It will be all about seeing if I can still do it and get back on the horse, as such.''

While Chisnall has modest personal goals, Aitken hopes to maintain her form in what has been a phenomenal year.

Aitken won the open women's title at Wanaka's Big Easy off-road marathon in January, and backed this up on the New Zealand championship course in Rotorua in April, when she cracked the 3hr barrier for the first time, stopping the clock at 2hr 59min 30sec.

Less than two months later, she lowered her time again, clocking 2hr 56min 55sec at the Christchurch marathon.

Aitken attributes her lower times to a more disciplined approach to training, and self-maintenance to avoid injury.

''I didn't have a good run last year. This year is a whole heap better,'' Aitken said.

''Training is going really well. I've got shoes sorted out right. And just getting stronger and stronger.''

Aitken is mindful that Chisnall poses one of the biggest threats to her retaining the Otago title.

''I think it's going to be good for me to have someone to race hard against, and you don't know who's going to turn up on the day. Last year, it was Candice Hammond.

''I think for me, it is going for my own goal, and if I happen to take a title, then that will be cool, too.''

Dunedin marathon
At a glance

• Entries: Accepted until 4pm today at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

• Marathon: Starts 8am tomorrow, Harington Point.

• First marathon finishers: About 10.30am.

• Half-marathon: Starts 9.30am tomorrow, Forsyth Barr Stadium.

• First half-marathon finishers: About 10.40am.

• Finish line (both events): Watson Park, Port Chalmers.

RECORDS

Marathon

• Men: Sam Wreford (Timaru) 2hr 19min 17sec, 2010.

• Women: Bernie Portenski (Wellington) 2hr 47min 4sec, 1992.