Athletics: Dent expected to be hard to stop in pursuit of third title

Australian Martin Dent is out to win his third consecutive Kepler Challenge near near Te Anau this morning.

The 36-year-old completed the challenging 60km race in 4hr 51min 28sec a year ago for his second title, almost 15min ahead of fellow countryman Mark Green.

Dent, a former Olympic marathon runner, holds the course record of 4hr 33min 37sec, after he blitzed Phil Costley's 2005 record by more than four minutes two years ago.

Dent has also competed in three Commonwealth Games and will take some stopping if he is to be denied a third straight title.

If he completes the hat-trick, he will match Christchurch's Vajin Armstrong (35), winner of the Kepler Challenge from 2010-12.

Armstrong sprained an ankle a couple of weeks before last year's event but still lined up on race day.

However, the injury got the better of him and he pulled out of the race at the Luxmore Hut.

He is fit and raring to go for this morning's race and is expected to challenge Dent in pursuit of a fourth win.

Green is also entered in the 450-strong capacity field, and should push for a podium spot with Dent and Armstrong.

Dunedin's Stafford Thompson, who finished third in 5hr 9min 39sec last year, is also back for another go.

The women's section features the return of two-time winner Zelah Morrall, who last competed and won in 2003.

Her winning time 12 years ago is still the women's record (5hr 23min 34sec), and came a year after she first won the event.

The 45-year-old Englishwoman is one of 66 overseas competitors in the 60km race.

But she will have to get past Napier's Ruby Muir if she is to return to the top of the podium.

Muir streaked to a third consecutive title a year ago in 5hr 51min 39sec.

Her best time was in 2012, when she clocked 5hr 37min 55sec. Two-time Australian ultra-marathon runner of the year Beth Cardelli, who finished second last year, is also lining up this morning.

Another 200 people will run the 27km Luxmore Grunt, which was won by Luke Hurring and Louisa Andrew a year ago.

Hurring is not back to defend his title, but Andrew will attempt to win it for a third consecutive year.

The Kepler Challenge will start at 6am this morning and the Luxmore Grunt at 7am.

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