Jason Palmer was the pick of the Otago runners competing in the Christchurch Marathon at the weekend.
The South Otago School teacher clocked 2hr 30min 49sec over the 42.1km course, run around the inner city for the first time since the earthquakes.
He was the third-fastest New Zealander behind Phil Costley and Josh Maisey, who were about 3min faster. Japan's Hirotaka Tanimoto won in 2hr 24min 13sec.
Dunedin's Mel Aitken (Leith) was the second woman across the line in a personal-best time of 2hr 49min 19min 13sec. Alice Mason won in 2hr 45min 43sec.
Caden Shields was the pick of the Otago runners in the half-marathon, which doubled as the national half-marathon championships.
Shields finished sixth in 1hr 6min 32sec, 1min 19sec behind the winner, former Otago runner Callan Moody.
Daniel Balchin, who moved to Christchurch from Dunedin a few years ago, was fourth in 1hr 5min 53sec.
Otago's Joshua Baan finished 15th in 1hr 10min 43sec, while Jonah Smith was further back in 25th place. Glen Ferguson (Leith) won the men's masters 50 years grade, crossing the line in 1hr 14min 48sec.
