<07.01.07> Hanny Allston Demolishes Cadbury Marathon Record


07 Jan 2007

MEDIA RELEASE

 

Hanny Allston Demolishes Cadbury Marathon Record

 

There was a 50% increase in competitors for this years Cadbury Marathon festival, but the diamond on the day was 20 year old Hanny Allston.

Making her debut over the distance, Allston ran an astonishing 2hours46min32sec, breaking the old course record of 3hours9min28sec by over 22 minutes. 

In perfect conditions for Marathon running, Allston got to the halfway point in 83min30sec, then started to bring it home finishing in 5 place overall and winner of the womens by a country mile.  “Towards the end I began to really focus in on knocking over the kilometres whilst holding my form together.”  Not only did Allston receive the winner’s cheque of $650 and the $300 bonus for breaking the course record, she also was duly rewarded with a massive basket of Cadbury Chocolates.

Second placegetter was the 2004 champion Elizabeth Bennett from the ACT, with Natalie Wallace in third.

The Men’s race saw Sydneysider Jeremy Horne take his second Cadbury Marathon Title.  The last time Horne held the title was in 2002, that same year he went on to be the Australian Marathon Champion.

Early on, Horne was content to sit in behind a group of runners, before stretching them on the Brooker Highway, to open up a sizeable lead.  He went on to win by over 3min in 2hours38min from Tim Cochrane and Tim Sloan.

A rare defeat was handed to Australian Marathon Champion Jenny Gillard today in the Cadbury Half Marathon.  Gillard appeared to struggle from the outset, indicating the beginning of a head cold due to the irregular seasonal conditions this week in Tasmania. 

Full credit must go to Melbourne’s Robyn Millard who ran stunningly to take her first victory on Tasmanian soil with a winning time of 78min20sec.  Millard was always in control, taking the lead early on and building on it throughout the 21.1km course.

A lead pack of four formed early in the men’s Cadbury Half Marathon.  Pushing the pace early was Mark Jackson.  Daniel Clarke of Hobart hung on for the longest before being dropped by Jackson who went on to win in 72min24sec.  Clarke came in second with Alex Humphrey gaining several places in the closing stages to round out the podium finishers.

Following the successes of the recent Telstra Australian Cross Country Championships, Skilled Burnie 10, Metro Point to Pinnacle and now the Cadbury Marathon, Tasmania has once again proved it can hold a national level Athletics competition.  More pleasingly is that participation levels continue to rise, strengthening the sport in Tasmania.

Hobart  – 7th January 2007

 

Further information: Richard Welsh (AT)                     03 6234 9551 / 0409 820 248