Wyatt beats quality field in Chch Half Marathon.

June 3 2003.

Jonathan Wyatt once again illustrated his world class with another effortless win in the SBS Christchurch Half Marathon.
A year ago Wyatt beat New Zealand's best runners and the New Zealand record with a staggering run of 1hr 2min 37secs. This year he beat them all again, but had to settle for a slower time after a tactical race. As the defending champion all eyes were on Wyatt right from the gun. New Zealand's best distance runners, plus Danish Olympian and former world orienteering champion Carsten Jorgenson & world ranked duathlete Mark Bailey, all marched to the Wellingtonian's drum. Until 10km that is when he quite simply bid farewell.
Local runner Brent Pulley and former Rotorua Marathon winner Mark Hutchison were the first to fall away. Then former sub-four minute miler and 2002 Christchurch full marathon winner Phil Clode limped off the course with a hamstring strain. Meanwhile, Wyatt was cranking out the 5km between 10km and 15km in close to 14:30 to open up exactly a minute on chasers Robbie Johnston, Jorgensen and surprise package Bailey. By the time he romped into the Kilmore Street home straight he was 75secs ahead of a dogfight for the minor medals.
Wyatt won as he liked in 1hr 05min 28secs, with Johnston's speed as a former sub-four minute miler giving him the edge over Jorgenson and Bailey, who impressed the running fraternity with a gutsy run.