RUNNING

Waikato Runner: First the Huntly Half, then the Olympics

Waikato Runner Aaron Pulford will race the Huntly Half Marathon this month in an attempt to make it 3/3 — Huntly Half Marathon

Two from two isn’t a bad record, and it’s a record that Thames/Hamilton runner Aaron Pulford will be attempting to beat when he comes back to the Huntly Half Marathon this month “my goal is to win the race and make it three years in a row.” At 20, Pulford is one of New Zealand’s young hopes for the 2014 Commonwealth Games which he will aim to qualify for next year in Europe (10,000m athletics) “I’d like to break the New Zealand Men’s Marathon record too in years to come and also represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games.”

With Aaron’s training currently focused on the big picture training towards the Gold Coast Half Marathon in July, a challenge looms in the form of new Kenyan runner Kip Kemei. Kemei is fresh from a win at the Rotorua Half Marathon “I ran with him a few weeks ago up in Thames Hills and he’s a really good athlete so Huntly should be a really good race.” With similar personal best times, and Kemei also looking for a third win (after taking out both Rotorua and Wellington Round the Bays) the scene is set for a Waikato vs Kenya battle.

The Waikato region will be backing Pulford when he steps out at this month’s event “I really enjoy the Huntly Half course, it’s not a boring run like some courses, also, because I’m a local Waikato athlete I get some good support from spectators which is really great.”