Nankervis makes his mark on half-marathon

Updated November 2 2012 - 10:34am, first published October 12 2008 - 1:10pm

SHANE NANKERVIS has topped Australia's biggest half-marathon field.The Ballarat endurance runner out-raced a field of more than 7700 professional and recreational athletes to win the Melbourne Marathon's 21km event yesterday.Nankervis clocked a time of one hour, five minutes, 58 seconds to capture the title while Ballarat-trained marathon man Lee Troop finished fourth in 1:06.50.For Nankervis, the event was all about finding enjoyment in the sport after missing an 2008 Olympic Games spot in London earlier this year."Time was irrelevant - it was a hot windy Melbourne morning - I just wanted the win," Nankervis said."I really happy. It was the biggest half-marathon ever in Australia but I just ran my own race."I was pretty disappointed to miss out on Beijing (Olympics).vp+1"I just wanted to get back to enjoying my running and having fun and I think it's paid off."Nankervis mentally blocked out the crowded Melbourne pathways brimming with joggers.He last saw Troop at the 13km mark.Nankervis instead choose to fix his sight on the end goal, the MCG.The final 300m of the event snakes about the boundary line of the stadium's hollowed turf."The MCG was good inspiration. It reminded me of my Commonwealth Games experience," Nankervis said.Nankervis will turn his training to the national road racing circuit beginning with the Zatopek in December.

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