Robertson aiming for NZ marathon record
WELLINGTON: Kiwi distance runner Zane Robertson is aiming high ahead of his debut marathon in Amsterdam this weekend.
The 27yearold Africabased New Zealander wants to go under 2hr 7min, a time which would better Rod Dixon’s longstanding mark by a good 2min.
‘‘I would love to run my first marathon in under 2:07, and hopefully show I’m a force to be reckoned with in the future over the distance,’’ Robertson told Dutch running website losseveter.nl.
Dixon’s 2hr 8min 59sec mark was set in 1983, and there is little doubt Robertson has the creden tials to lower that significantly.
Competing at last year’s Rio Olympics, Robertson broke Dick Quax’s 39yearold 10,000m record by more than 8sec in clocking 27min 33.67sec to finish 12th.
In 2015, he smashed Dixon’s half marathon record in his debut over the 21.1km distance in Kagawa, Japan, with a pacy 59min 47sec time.
Although he is trying not to put too much pressure on himself, Robertson is not ruling out a shot at the win if the race plays out that way.
‘‘I want to at least run a national record,’’ he said.
‘‘Because I’m new at the distance I don’t want to say 2:04 is possible now.
‘‘Two hours, six minutes, 50 seconds will be an absolutely amazing day for me, and anything extra in the last few kilometres, if I have a shot at winning, I’ll take that shot.
‘‘It’s all about belief.’’ Robertson had hoped to test himself over the 42.2km mara thon distance earlier, but a back stress fracture last November forced him to put his plans on hold.
He has since reset his approach, and is already planning a longterm commitment to the gruelling distance.
‘‘The plan would be in the next two or three years to run under 2:05, to be the fastest nonAfrican ever,’’ he said.
‘‘But not only that — I want to compete no matter what nationality I’m competing against.
‘‘I see everyone as equal — human is human, and everyone is beatable.’’ — NZN