Man-wang runners hit the road
David Lovelock and Juantia Paterson were the fastest male and female over 10km at the Manawatu-wanganui road running championships at the weekend.
Lovelock won the 10km men’s open race, while Paterson won the women’s race from the Esplanade, across Fitzherbert Bridge to Massey University and back, in good running conditions on Saturday.
Marton’s Lovelock, who runs for Palmerston North, finished in 33 minutes 40 seconds, 2min 16sec ahead of second-placed Chris Sanson (Palmerston North) and Will O’connor (Feilding Moa) was 1min 16sec behind him in third.
Lovelock and Sanson were close at the start but Lovelock finished strongly.
Ashhurst’s Paterson, who had stepped up from the masters event to the open race, finished in 42min 10 sec, 2min 59sec in front of Emma Crum, while Janelle Wierenga was a further 3min 47sec back in third, making it a Feilding Moa top three.
Benjamin Wall of Feilding Moa won the 5.1km under-18 boys race in 16min 51sec, having a good race with Theodore Purdy of Palmerston North, who was six seconds behind, and Feilding Moa’s Luke Scott was third, a further 52 seconds back.
Brittany Matthews of Wanganui Harriers won the girls under-18 race in 24min 51sec.
Bradyn Popow (Palmerston North) won the men’s 10km walk in 1 hour 5min 5sec and Sue Hoskin (Manawatu Striders) won the women’s walk in 1hr 5min 21sec.
About 180 people competed.