Marathon’s Elders Demanding Respect

Marathon’s Elders Demanding Respect

Among contenders for this weekend’s 35th Christchurch Airport Marathon are more than a few runners who are older than the event itself!

Veterans of the national distance running scene are tipped to topple the sport’s up and comers in the annual Queen’s Birthday Weekend event. None more so than 45 year old Liza Hunter-Galvan.

The Texas-based Aucklander has been on something of a roll at the Christchurch Airport Marathon, winning the past four consecutive years and becoming the oldest winner every time. And for good measure she actually won the race back in 1999 as well.

Hunter-Galvan shows no signs of slowing down either. Last year’s win was the fastest of her five (2hrs 43min 40secs) and the mother of five backed that up with a win at the Auckland Marathon. More recently, a win in her 45-49 age group at the prestigious Boston Marathon last month confirmed her form for Christchurch this Sunday.

The former Olympian will need to be on form too. While the third placegetters from the past two Christchurch Airport Marathons – Mel Aitken (Dun) and Klaartje van Schie (Stewart Is) – are lining up again, the woman Hunter-Galvan will be watching for is Marathon debutant Alice Mason.

The 27 year old has been a national contender over shorter distances since she was a school girl. Two years ago she was fourth in the Christchurch Airport Half Marathon and a few weeks ago the Wellingtonian ran her fastest half marathon for second place in Rotorua.

Mason’s 1hr 16min at Rotorua indicates the potential for a marathon time similar to Hunter-Galvan’s Christchurch win last year. But the defending champion has something of a reputation for watching and waiting for less experienced campaigners to hit marathon running’s much-fabled “Wall”. In the past three consecutive years, she took the lead only in the final five kilometres, so Mason would do well to do some watching and waiting of her own.

Like Hunter-Galvan, Nelson school teacher Phil Costley has a habit of turning the tables on younger talent. With more than 30 national titles to his name, the former Commonwealth Games marathoner is something of a legend in the sport. Again, like Hunter-Galvan, Costley won his first Christchurch Marathon back in 1999. He returned in 2001 to win the half marathon in what was then a national record (62min 41secs) and then won the full marathon again in 2004. But in 2013 he surprised even himself to become the eldest male winner at age 43.

That 2013 race was one for the books. Race favourite Sam Wreford withdrew midway due to illness, an Australian contender injured himself stepping in a puddle, and in windy conditions Costley picked off a few other youngsters to take line honours with the slowest winning times on record (2hrs 35min). But it was a win and never shy to stand up and be counted, Costley is back again this year.

Defending champion Sam Wreford won’t be on the line due to ongoing injury issues, but there is plenty of other young talent such as the Auckland pairing of Tony Payne and Josh Maisey. In 2014 Payne was third in Christchurch and fourth in the Auckland Marathon, while the 21 year old Maisey was third at Auckland and first in the Lydiard Marathon. Costley, however, was a solid second in the recent Rotorua Marathon, so the youngsters will need to be on their game.

Like Phil Costley, Auckland marathon maestro Gavin Stevens is always keen to keep the young guys honest. Stevens finished fourth last year and at age 59, the former Commonwealth Games cycling medallist doesn’t have any visions of overall honours. But he is always hunting for the fastest time in the world for his age. Last year in Christchurch he missed the age 58 world record of 2hrs 35min 51secs by just 90secs. He’s back looking for another fast run but in a cruel irony, the age 59 world record is actually faster at 2hrs 34min 23secs.

The final word in this age vs experience debate, however, might end up belonging to Japan’s Hirotaka Tanimoto. Having turned 30 just a week ago, Tanimoto sits nicely in the middle of the age debate and with a best of 2hrs 20min has the fastest recent time among contenders.

Japan has an honourable history in this event too, with female Olympian Naenai Sasaki setting a women’s record in 1982 (2hrs 35min) that still stands today. So in this 35th anniversary event, a Japanese win among men would be very fitting… But don’t bet against Phil Costley.

ends

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