Kimberley Smith sliced over a minute off the New Zealand women's marathon record in finishing eighth in 2h 25m 21s in London yesterday.
Smith broke the national record of 2h 26m 46s which was held by Allison Roe and set in winning the Boston marathon 29 years ago on 20th April 1981.
Liliya Shobukhova of Russia won in 2h 22m 0s. Shobukhova won the Chicago marathon in October last year in 2h 25m 56s.
Smith said that she was looking to going under 2h 25m, after passing half way in 1h 11m.
"My coach believes I can run under 2h 25m," said Smith.
"If I can't run that fast I'll probably go back to running 10km. I want to be a marathon runner really badly," she added.
Smith now holds eight New Zealand national records over 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m, half marathon set just two months ago in New Orleans, the marathon and indoors one mile, 3000m and 5000m.
Fiona Docherty, New Zealand representative in the marathon at the world championships in Berlin last year, was 22nd in London in 2h 37m 55s, after clocking 1h 18m 4s at half way.
Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia won the men's race in 2h 5m 19s.
Other New Zealand performances were London based Paul Martelletti from Palmerston North 21st in 2h 21m 2s (half 1h 9m 5s), improving on his 2h 26m 16s in London last year and Marie Devoy 486th woman in 3h 29m 13s.
