PORT Fairy runner Jason Daye has taken out top prize at the 3 Bays marathon, winning Sunday’s event with a blistering time of 2hrs41mins26secs.

Daye, who was last year’s overall Hybrid Fool winner while also taking out first place in the ultra-marathon, said while he chose to just do the 42km event this year it was still a great day out.

“It was a hard one, very windy coming home, but unlike (Saturday) we had a tail wind for half of it,” he said.

“The first half was relatively easy, but once we turned the corner at Bridgewater Lakes it got pretty tough from there.”

Having completed the full course in previous years, Daye said he was familiar with the track and that assisted him in posting a good time.

“It’s always good when you know the area and the course,” he said.

“I didn’t do the ultra this year… I’ve got a lot of respect for anyone who can pull that off it is tough going… it probably made this event a little bit easier to get through.

“Last year I could hardly walk on the Sunday morning and somehow had to get up and do the marathon.”

Former Portlander Marcus Alexander crossed the line in second place while regular 3 Bays attendee from Warrnambool, Ben Wallis, finished in third.

Meanwhile, Mandy Towler, who travelled all the way from Adelaide to compete in the marathon, came in first place for the women’s portion of the competition, with a time of 3hrs33mins30secs.

In second place it was Joan Veugelers while local runner Kay Antony backed up her Saturday 60km ultra-marathon to finish third in Sunday’s marathon.

Towler said wind was certainly a factor but that she had some experience handling it.

“I did the Ocean Road marathon in May and that was really windy, so I kind of figured this would be similar,” she said.

“I made the trek over for this event, I’ve got a few friends that run it… I was really pleased with my time; it was probably a little bit unexpected to come first but I’ll certainly take it.”

Towler, who was doing the 3 Bays event for the first time but said she has some experience running marathons in general, said the atmosphere along the track and at the finish line really added to the day.

“(The course) was really beautiful, and it’s a great atmosphere here with all the kids competing and the relay events,” Towler said.

“It’s been a great all-around weekend, I stayed right on the foreshore of the town and it’s just been a nice time.”