Tempe, Arizona, USA - Move over Peter Snell, John Walker, Rod Dixon and Murray Halberg. There's a new long-distance running star on the horizon representing New Zealand.

Michael Aish gave the country a big jolt Sunday, winning the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon.

"I hope they'll be impressed," Aish, 31, said, after his first marathon victory, accomplished in 2 hours, 13 minutes, 20 seconds. He was referring to the four legendary greats of the past, who had established New Zealand as one of the world's elite among the long-distance community before its recent decline.

Of course,  Aish's time was not impressive, but he was unconcerned.

"The time wasn't a concern," he said. "My coach (Nick Bideau of Australia) told me to go out as slow as you can, then in the second half try and smash them."

That's exactly what Aish did. Following a slow early pace, despite a perfect day for running, Aish found himself in a two-man battle with Ethiopia's Dejene Yirdawe at the 22-mile mark. The two ran nearly together for the next 2 1-2 miles, with Aish mostly tucking in just behind Yirdawe, before making his big move.

When Aish went, Yirdawe didn't, and he wound up finishing 50 seconds behind the winner.

"This is the highlight of my career," Aish, who won 12 NCAA Division II titles _ at 5,000 and 10,000 meters and in cross country _ at Western State in Colorado, said.

While Aish was celebrating his inaugural triumph and ending the African monopoly on the event, Ethiopian Adanech Zekiros was cruising to her second straight victory in the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. Not only did she win, she set the course record of 2:13:14 _ 19 seconds faster than the previous mark of 2:31:33, by countrywoman Shitaye Gemechu in 2004, the race's debut.