Nathan Hartigan
NATHAN Hartigan is the state's champion marathon runner after he was the first Victorian to finish in yesterday's Melbourne Marathon.
The Ballarat long distance runner completed the 42km course in two hours and 20 minutes flat, to finish sixth overall and third among the Australian runners.
Kenyans Jonathon Chesoo (2:12.35) and John Kyui (2:15.58) finished first and second. New South Welshman Westcott was the first Australian to finish with a time of 2:16.00, to be the only man to qualify for next year's world championships in Moscow.
Saturday's result was Hartigan's first state title. He was also part of the winning Victorian team in the teams' event.
Lauren Shelley and Jane Fardell were the first and second women home with times of 2:36:29 and 2:37.54 respectively, both qualifying for the world titles in Moscow.
Ballarat's Duer Yoa, won the 10km race in 30.35 minutes, in what was an unofficial record time for the course.
The 23-year-old was part of a breakaway group with Ben Ashkettle, Tyson Popplestone and Brady Threlsall. Yoa made a break from the lead group with only Ashkettle staying in touch, before the Ballarat runner won by three seconds.
