Manderson, 31, a carpet layer, finished second to Tom Galloway last year, when Galloway won in 2hr 34min 31sec.
This year, Manderson ran 7min 10sec quicker than he managed in 2023 and 2min 20sec faster than Galloway’s winning time to record a massive personal best, by almost 8min, and establish a course record time of 2hr 32min 11sec.
Christchurch-based Galloway and Manderson took early control of the Emerson’s-sponsored marathon but both were to experience difficulties with cramping and mindset throughout.
"I kind of began to fall to bits on that last 5km, but just held on", Manderson said.
"My calves started cramping at around 30km but I told those bastards to hang on. And they did."
Manderson’s training regime is not for the faint-hearted. He spends 10 hours a day on his knees laying carpet before he heads off for a three-hour run.
After a couple of previous successes, he rates yesterday’s victory as major.
"This is probably the biggest", he said.
"For me, it’s not really about placing. It’s about time. But then getting a first place is a bonus. I’m pretty happy."
He said he had been putting in a massive training block leading into yesterday’s marathon with coach Daniel Jones.
His journey to the start line yesterday was bumpy as he dealt with a series of viral infections.
Manderson praised Galloway as being a massive inspiration and key to his victory.
The defending champion found he hit the dreaded marathon wall earlier than expected.
"My 15km felt like about 30km and he [Manderson] got further and further away and I knew I was in big trouble", Galloway said.
With thoughts turning to pulling the pin, it was the cries from supporters lining the course gave Galloway confidence to keep going, and finding himself on the tail end of the half-marathon field, he found his second wind.
His second-placed effort of 2hr 33min 13sec was his second-fastest marathon time.
Third to finish was Naoki Kobayashi in 2hr 39min 20sec.
Matthew Moloney completed a men’s marathon and half-marathon double for Nelson athletes when he won the open men’s half in 1hr 12min 31sec.
Moloney, 28, an analyst for the Commerce Commission, got sucked into a fast start by Jason van Kempen, but as van Kempen’s pace eased, Moloney settled into a pace to his liking.
With the two locked together and the pace surging as each tried to pull away from the other, Moloney managed to push ahead over the final 2km.
Having run as a member of the Caversham Harrier Club while in Dunedin, Moloney holds the event close to his heart and makes an annual pilgrimage south to compete.
"It’s a great event", he said.
"One day, I’ll win the marathon — that is the plan. But for now I’m happy with this."
For Moloney, yesterday’s half-marathon was his last major event on his race calendar for the year as he will likely move his focus to track racing over the summer.
It was third time lucky for Alex Witt when he won a competitive 10km open men’s section in a sprint finish to set a course record time of 32min.
Witt, 23, an exercise and law student at the University of Otago who has finished second in the 10km section of the event in each of the past two years, became involved in a tit-for-tat battle with Grayson Westgate and Simon Cromarty.
Motivated by the words of triathlete Christian Bloomfield — "it hurts more to lose" — it was always going to be hard to deny Witt his victory.
As the business end of the race neared, Witt went with Westgate as he made a move for line honours 1500m out.
Just as Westgate appeared to have the race in the bag on the run up Anzac Ave Bridge, Witt found another gear to power past and steam down to the finish to better Reuben Beard’s course record from last year by 27sec.
All three podium finishers eclipsed Beard’s time, Westgate finishing just 3sec behind Witt and Cromarty winning the bronze medal for the second consecutive year, clocking 32min 17sec.
"Third one’s the charm", Witt said as he savoured winning the title on his third attempt.
"I’m pretty stoked to be able to tick it off."
Henry Hodgson, a year 10 student at Otago Boys’ High School, led home a large 5km field in a personal best time of 17min 49sec.
Following Hodgson in for second place was Glenn Radka in 18min 8sec, and Hudson Roy was third in 18min 33sec.
