Top city runner targets 'PB' in half marathon | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

Leading Christchurch contender Matt Ingram wants a personal best when he runs Sunday's SBS Christchurch half marathon.

It's the fifth consecutive year the 27-year-old sports scientist has run the half, with bests last year of sixth place and a 1hr 6min 31sec time.

"It would be nice to be in the low 1.04s or high 1.03s this time," said Ingram, who warmed up with second place behind Mark Bailey in the Rossendale 15km recently.

The marathon and half marathon are expected to draw a record field of 4000 or more runners, and include entries from 29 countries.

"The field for the half is just as good or stronger than last year, from what I've heard and read," said Ingram, who will also run the Gold Coast half in a month's time.

On Sunday Ingram, duathlon champion Bailey, and Andrew Davidson, who is chasing world university games selection, will provide the local threats to titleholder and favourite Dale Warrander (New Plymouth), former four-minute miler Ben Ruthe (Tauranga), and Scott Winton (Auckland).

Ruthe's wife Jessica, runner-up the last two years, is out to get rid of the bridesmaid tag in the women's half, where Auckland and Rotorua marathon winner Tracey Clissold and youngster Lara Phillips, both from Auckland, are also in the mix.

Commonwealth games rep Craig Kirkwood (Mt Maunganui), an easy winner of the Rotorua marathon, and last year's winner Jeremy Horne (Australia) are expected to contest men's honours over the full marathon, with the women's title up for grabs after the withdrawal of titleholder Kate Seibold-Crosby (Australia).

The marathon has a new format this time, two laps to the Avondale Rd bridge from the Town Hall and back instead of the circuit that extended to the airport.

Although his distance is the half, Ingram thinks the change will be good.

"From what I've heard, it could be quite lonely around Avonhead," he said.

The new course gave supporters at least four opportunities to see the marathon runners, he pointed out.