Hicks dominates, Buscomb defends Barfoot & Thompson Half Marathon titles

Malcolm Hicks maintained his domestic distance running superiority by romping to an emphatic victory in the Barfoot & Thompson Half Marathon on home turf in Auckland today.

Cambridge runner Camille Buscomb overcame surgery just two weeks ago, to successfully defend the women’s title as part of the ASB Auckland Marathon in a time of 1:16:07.

Hicks, an Auckland-based engineer, who secured both the New Zealand Cross Country and Road titles earlier this year, took the race by the scruff of the neck from the outset to push ahead of his rivals to claim a sweet win in 1:08:30.

Michael Banks of Auckland City claimed second spot some 1:48 adrift of Hicks with club-mate Josh Maisey rounding out the podium in third in 1:10:48. Another Aucklander Tony Payne (Wesley AC) finished fourth in 1:11:14.


Malcolm Hicks. Photo © Marathon Photos

A delighted Hicks, who is seeking to potential qualify for the Rio Olympics in either the 5000m or 10,000m, said:  “It’s my first time running the Auckland half, so I’m very happy to get the win. I had an idea of the course because I paced the marathon last year. I strung them out from the start and ran my own race.

“I know most of the guys because we train together so I knew what I had to do. It is a great stepping stone for what is to come for this season.”

Buscomb, the World University Games 5000m silver medallist, proved too strong for her Hamilton Hawks clubmate Rowan-Marie Torckler, who produced an impressive run to take second in 1:16:23. Auckland-based Olivia Burne completed the podium in 1:17:49.


Camille Buscomb. Photo © Marathon Photos

“I really wanted to defend my title but it was really tough,” says Buscomb. “I had my four wisdom teeth out and something removed from my jaw. So it was major surgery two weeks ago and I needed to recover, but I so wanted to defend my title.

“It wasn’t as fast as I wanted but I am just rapt to get out here and complete it in a pretty decent time,” adds Buscomb, the reigning New Zealand 5000m and Road champion, who is hoping to have a dart at qualifying for the Rio Olympics in the 5000m and 10,000m.

Results, Barfoot & Thompson Half Marathon, elite men: Malcolm Hicks (Auckland) 1:08.30, 1; Michael Banks (Auckland) 1:10.48, 2; Josh Maisey (Auckland) 1:10.48, 3; Tony Payne (Auckland) 1:11.14, 4; Brad Luiten (Auckland) 1:15.11, 5.
Elite women: Camile Buscomb (Cambridge) 1:16.07, 1; Rowan-Marie Torckler (Cambridge) 1:16.23, 2; Olivia Burne (Auckland) 1:17.49, 3; Annika Pfitzinger (Auckland) 1:18.26, 4; Kelli Boyd (Auckland) 1:18.29, 5.
ASB Auckland Marathon, elite men: Aaron Pulford (Thames) 2:27.01, 1; Jonathan Jackson (Auckland) 2:27.32, 1; Dougal Thorburn (Wellington) 2:27:54, 3; Nick Horspool (Wellington) 2:28.08, 4; Ciaran Faherty (Auckland) 2:30.37, 5.
Elite women: Katie Kemp (Wellington) 2:42.35, 1; Kelly Parlane (Auckland) 2:52.33, 2; Elizabeth Pittaway (Australia) 2:54.45, 3; Sally Gibbs (Katikati) 2:55.15, 4; Mel Aitken (Dunedin) 2:55.44, 5.
12k Traverse, men: Andrew Moorman (Auckland) 42.58, 1; Mike Lichtwark (Auckland) 44.18, 2; Charlie Knox (Auckland) 47.03, 3.
Women: Penny Peskett (Auckland) 44.20, 1; Francesca Stafford (Auckland) 52.26, 2; Emma Post (Auckland) 53.16, 3.