| Jono won the Christchurch half marathon in a world class 1hr
02min 37sec to improve the national record for the distance
by four seconds. In doing so he eclipsed his great rival Phil
Costley after a classic duel over 21.1km on the fastest half
marathon course in the country. |
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| Christchurch has shown its ability to draw a quality field
over the years, and the previous half marathon record was set
there in 1994 by local man Paul Smith. |
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| Both Jono and Costley are Manchester-bound and were looking
to show their form ahead of their departure. However, few could
have predicted the quality of running, or the intensity of the
head-to-head confrontation that eventuated. |
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| The pair surged into the lead from the gun and went through
the first kilometre in a touch over 2min 50sec, and remained
at a fast pace through 5km in 14:50, and 10km in 29:55. Stride
for stride they went until Jono applied the pressure after the
16km mark, going out to a lead of about 30m and gradually stretching
it out over the final 5km, despite a moment of concern at the
Hagley Park gates where he nearly took a wrong turn. |
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| Jono's winning margin was over 150 metres from Costley, whose
63:10 would have been easily good enough to win on any other
day. National road champion Robbie Johnston was a distant third
in 66min. |
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| If ever there was a confidence boost ahead of the Commonwealth
Games marathon, this was it. Jono has also declared his intention
to run the world mountain running champs in Austria following
the Manchester Games. We wish him well. |
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| ENDS |
The Athletics Club of the Hutt Valley, New Zealand. 