The Dunedin chartered accountant intends to apply the same dedication to his administration duties as he showed when training for the marathon.
Halley was elected to the top spot at the annual meeting of Athletics Otago on Monday night and has set high standards for his administration.
"I want to secure the financial base of the centre," Halley told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
"I want to keep participation levels high and grow the numbers competing in the sport."
Otago is one of the few centres in the country experiencing increased participation in the sport, thanks to the work of Sport Otago CoachForce development officer Catherine O'Sullivan.
Participation at secondary school level has increased significantly since Des Smith became regional director for the Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association, three years ago.
"Our challenge is to make sure the funding is available for the CoachForce development officer and make sure that athletes competing in secondary school events stay with the sport," Halley said.
Halley (44) ran his first Waitati circuit as a 19-year-old in 1983. Fourteen years later he became the first runner to complete the course over the Mt Cargill Road to Waitati and back by the old gravel road and down to Leith Valley 100 times.
He ran the circuit 18 times in 1993 but cut back to one last year.
"I run it less frequently now," Halley said.
"My body is not up to doing it as much as I used to."
Halley represented New Zealand in the world half-marathon championships in Brussels, Belgium, in 1993.
He completed his first marathon, around the Dunedin harbour frontage, as a 15-year-old in 1980. He has completed that race five times, winning it in 1995 and 1998.
In 13 completed marathons Halley has a best time of 2hr 26min 30sec, at the New Zealand championships in Invercargill in 1993.
His best placing in the New Zealand championships was fifth in Christchurch in 1995. He was a member of the Ariki team that won the national club title that day.
Halley, who replaces another distance runner, Rob Urquhart, as president, represented Otago on 18 occasions at the New Zealand senior cross-country championships.
• Netty Lastovicka's life membership was formally recognised at the annual meeting.
The Brent Halley file
Age: 44
Family: Diane (wife), Bronwyn (14), Diane (12)
Occupation: Chartered accountant at PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Sport: Athletics
Position: President Athletics Otago
Competitive record:
Marathon: Best time 2hr 26min 30sec (1993); NZ championships, 5th (1995); wins, Moro marathon (1995, 1998). Number of marathons: 13
Half-marathon: Best time 1hr 08min 13sec (1993); NZ representative world championships, Brussels (1993)
Best track times: 1500m, 4min 04sec; 3000m, 8min 40sec; 5000m, 14min 59sec; 10,000m, 31min 03sec, Completed Waitati circuit a record 172 times
