GEORGE HEAGNEY

Last updated15:07, June 7 2017

DAVID UNWIN/FAIRFAX NZ

Manawatu runner Chris Sanson will race in the Gold Coast next month.

Manawatu runner Chris Sanson has been selected to represent New Zealand at the Oceania marathon championships at the Gold Coast next month.

Also going is Hawke's Bay'sLaura Nagel, who will compete in the Oceania 10km championships.

This event has also been designated as a Commonwealth Games selection trial and the 29-year-old Sanson could be in with a shot at being picked if heperforms on the Gold Coast.

In the past 18 months, Sanson has been in top form with his long-distance running.

This year hewon the half marathon at the Hawke's Bay marathon, the Wellington Round the Bays half marathon and the Great Forest Events half at Waitarere Beach,and he finished second at the Rotorua marathon, beaten by Japan'sSaeki Makino.

Sanson is targeting the national championships in Wellington this month, too.

Last year hehad four second places at big running events - the Wellington half marathon, the Hawke's Bay marathon, Great Forest Eventsand the national marathon championships atRotorua.

Because this year's New Zealand marathon championships are after the closing date of application for the Oceania event, they accepted the winner ofthe 2017 Rotorua marathon (or next best available athlete), or the winner oflastyear'snational 10km road race (or next best available athlete), or athletes who submitted their performances for marathon or 10km road competitions from the past year.

A former triathlete and Ironman, Sanson started focusing on long-distance running last year.

-Stuff

See the original post here:

Manawatu's Chris Sanson off to Oceania marathon championships - Manawatu Standard