'Bit of training' sees Ottosson retain her title | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Rotorua runner Johanna Ottosson has retained her women's title in the Wharf to Wharf race on Waiheke Island.

The 2010 Rotorua Marathon winner won the Wharf to Wharf race in 1h 47m 08s seconds.

Although Ottosson was happy with the win, she had only used the race as "a bit of training".

"Don't get me wrong, it's a tough race to be honest and one of the hardest road races I've raced."

It was Ottosson's first competitive run since she competed in the Sacramento Marathon on December 5, where she got a personal best time of 2h 45m 31s seconds.

Ottosson told The Daily Post yesterday she hadn't yet decided if she would look to retain her Rotorua Marathon title.

Rotorua runner Graeme Pearson also repeated his third place of last year running 20 seconds faster, in the men's division with a 1h 43m 57s behind former Rotorua Marathon winner Scott Winton.

Winton made it five years in a row in the annual Wharf to Wharf 25km road race from Orapiu to Matiatia at the weekend.

Winton was in control of the demanding hilly course throughout, winning in 1h 33m 21s, nearly eight minutes ahead of 2009 Round the Bays winner Roman Kruszewski.

Winton said that he has felt good in training over the Christmas break.

"It is a good hit out early in the year and I'm in view of equalling Mark Bright's six wins in the event," said Winton.

Allison Roe, winner of the Boston and New York marathons in 1981, was second overall and woman's winner in the associated 7km race from Kennedy Point to Matiatia. Roe (53) intends to compete in a number of the major off road events in the South Island.

"I've just been invited back to Boston in April to celebrate 30 years since I won the marathon there," said Roe.