Aaron Minervini won his second W.R.Somerford Marathon at City Beach on Sunday morning.
In perfect conditions, the field set off from the south side of City groyne at 8:00am. Marathon first-timer David Graham opened up an early lead in the swim leg, and emerged from the water to run north with a handy break over Greg Mickle, with the rest of the field further back.
A quarter of an hour later, having made his way to the Floreat drain and back, David went back past the clubrooms still with a comfortable lead. In second place by this time was last year's winner Aaron Minervini, with 12-time women's winner Alison O'Toole having moved into third.
The second half of the event takes the runners through the sandhills south of City Beach, and this is where races are won and lost. Aaron was slowly but steadily making up ground, and about halfway through the dunes took the lead for the first time. As they turned for home, David was holding position in Aaron's footsteps but with about half a kilometre to go Aaron put the pressure on and opened up a small but unbridgeable lead, winning the race for the second time by a margin of about 40 metres.
Alison O'Toole easily maintained her third position to be once again the first female home.
Race video
* all placings are subject to members completing patrol and other membership requirements
