RUNNING

Sushi chef takes on the scientist in ASB Marathon

By Sports Media NZ

The ASB Auckland Marathon could be set for an intriguing showdown between New Zealand marathon number two Nick Horspool and his Wellington Scottish club-mate Japan’s Hirotaka Tanimoto on Sunday.
Just seven seconds separated the pair at the Lake Biwa Marathon in March when Horspool of Wellington Scottish prevailed in a titantic tussle – slicing more than four minutes from his personal best in a time of 2:24:45.

It was at this race in Japan where Horspool was first introduced to Tanimoto and on hearing that the Japanese teacher’s visa had run out after a spell working in Melbourne, the Kiwi marathoner encouraged him to move to Wellington, where he works as a sushi chef.

“I suggested we have a great running community down here, it would be great to have another good marathoner in our ranks and he should join Wellington Scottish,” explains Horspool, who works as an earthquake scientist in Lower Hutt.

Tanimoto accepted the offer and has made an immediate impression on the domestic running scene blitzing to an impressive victory in May’s Christchurch Marathon posting an eye-catching time of 2:24:13.
The pair also occasional train together but 33-year-old Horspool , who finished runner-up in last year’s race behind Stephen Lett, insists that should Tanimoto prevail in Sunday’s showdown there will be no tinge of regret he motivated to join him in Wellington.

“It is great to have a quality athlete living and training in the same city as we can work off each other,” says Horspool. “I will not be too disappointed if he beats me.”

A strong elite field assembled for this year’s race is further bolstered by the presence of the fastest man in the field, Adriano Bastos. The experienced 37-year-old Brazilian boasts a lifetime best of 2:15:39 - set when finishing 19^th at the 2009 World Championships - and although his recent form does not quite match that standard he is pursuing a sub-2:25 clocking in Auckland.

With the New Zealand Marathon Championship title also on the line on Sunday look out for three-time National 10,000m champion Aaron Pulford (Whangamata), who is set to make his debut over the marathon distance, and Jonathan Jackson (Auckland City), a podium finisher at the Rotorua Marathon earlier this year.

Dougal Thorburn, team-mate of Horspool and Tanimoto, is not an elite entrant but he is an athlete with leading credentials. The Wellington GP landed the 2013 New Zealand Marathon title in a PB of 2:25:33 and is the current New Zealand Mountain Running champion.

Leading the entries in the elite women’s race is 52-year-old veteran Sally Gibbs. The Tauranga Ramblers runner stole the headlines at the 50^th edition of the Rotorua Marathon last year by winning in an impressive 2:45:58 and after landing the World Masters Mountain Running title in Wales last month, the evergreen performer is clearly in top shape. 

Another interesting contender is Napier’s Ruby Muir. Better known for her impressive achievements in trail running, the 24-year-old more recently switched focus to road running winning the Wellington Marathon in July in 2:49:08 and could be a major threat in Auckland. 

Other lead contenders in the women’s elite race will be Katie Kemp (Wellington Scottish) 2:49:55 and Kelly Parlane (North Harbour Bays) 2:52:20. Watch out also for Auckland multi-sport phenomenon Melanie Burke, who will be looking for a prominent showing in New Zealand’s premier marathon. The 35-year-old has represented her country across several endurance sports and finished third in the elite women’s race at the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IRONMAN New Zealand earlier this year.

The leading contender in the Barfoot & Thompson Half Marathon will be New Zealand Cross Country and Road Race champion Malcolm Hicks, who is currently enjoying a rich vein of form.  Hicks set a half-marathon best of 1:05:39 in Christchurch in May and will take all the beating over the 21.1km distance.

In the women’s elite race at the Barfoot & Thompson Half Marathon, Camille Buscomb will start clear favourite to defend her title. The Hamilton-based athlete has enjoyed an outstanding year winning 5000m silver at the World University Games and will be chasing more success on the streets of Auckland as she looks to build towards securing a spot on the track at next year’s Rio Olympics.    

There are 12,475 entries in the ASB Auckland Marathon (starts 6am), Barfoot & Thompson Half Marathon (6.50am), 12k Traverse (9am), Heart Foundation 5k (10am) and Kids Marathon (11am).

The ASB Auckland Marathon includes 10 athletes who are part of the ASB-sponsored Run Down Your Rate where their time will correspond with their home loan interest rate from the bank.