Breakaway marathon win

Press, 3 February 1986, Page 27

Breakaway marathon win

PA Auckland Allan Zachariessen of Denmark broke away from the field about halfway through the Wang New Zealand Marathon on Saturday and won by more than 3min. His time of 2hr 12min 36s was more than four minutes faster than that of Geoff Wells in winning the event last year.

Jerzy Skarzynski (Poland) was second with Bobby Hodge (United States) third and New Zealander Tom Birnie fourth. Neither Birnie nor the next New Zealander, Tom Herlihy, bettered the Commonwealth Games qualifying time of 2hr 14 min. Kersti Jacobsen of Den-

mark won the women’s section in 2hr 36min 58s, repeating her victory of last year. Judith Hine (Tokoroa) was second in 2hr 49min 30s. Zachariessen, although midly troubled by stomach pains over the last Bkm, never seemed in danger of relinquishing his lead. He said later he did not expect to run such a fast time.

“Three days ago I got an injury running in training and I could not even walk back to the hotel,” he said. “And when I arrived (in New Zealand) I felt really, really bad after 24 hours flying.” Skarzynski swept past Hodge about Bkm from the finish, but became ill shortly afterwards and his bounce seemed to subside.

Graham Macky, who was overhaauled only a few hundred metres from victory last year, started the race this year at a cracking 2hr lOmin pace but the Wellingtonian struggled into seventh place in 2hr 18min 10s. The race, which began at 6.45 a.m., was run in comfortable temperatures but high humidity and a nagging wind. Results.— MEN A. Zachariessen (Denmark), 2hr 12min 365, 1; J. Skarzynski (Poland), 2:15.39, 2; B. Hodge (U.S.A.) 2:15.57, 3; T. Birnie (Christchurch), 2:16.37, 4; W. Dubiel (Poland), 2:17.17, 5; P. Herlihy (Manurewa), 2:17.45, 6; G. Macky (Wellington), 2:18.11, 7. , WOMEN K. Jacobsen (Denmark), 2:36.58, 1; J. Hine (T0k0r0a),2:49.30, roa),2:49.30, 2.