The Ballarat runner was a regular competitor in the event but had never returned home with a win, placing second or third “five or six times”.

But his fortunes changed under a clear sky yesterday when he outlasted top Warrnambool runner Clinton Hall to seal his maiden triumph.

Dalton, 31, finished the 21.1 kilometres from Koroit to Warrnambool, via the rail trail, in one hour, 13 minutes and 39 seconds.

He finished 50 seconds ahead of Hall, who clocked 1.14.29. Warrnambool’s Tyson McKinnon was third in 1.19.08.

Dalton, who trailed Hall for the first 12 kilometres, said he did not think he would finally break through for a win.

“I had a plan to go with Clint for as long as I could and if I had any in the tank in the last couple of kilometres, maybe try and pull away,” he said.

Even then, Dalton was uncertain the plan would come off until he entered Jetty Flat with less than 500 metres to run and Hall in his wake.

“I was always looking behind, making sure I was just a little bit in front,” he said.

“There was a little bit of a gap but I never felt comfortable. I know he finishes strong, so I never felt comfortable I had it in the bag.”

Dalton said his next goal was to crack 1.13.00 in the Melbourne Half-Marathon on October 12, which would be a personal best for 21.1 kilometres.

“If I run top 20 and run under 73, I’ll be happy,” he said.

Warrnambool’s Alison Hall was the first female home in 1.27.43, although her time was more than three minutes slower than her effort to win 12 months ago.

She finished ahead of Warrnambool’s Natalie Densley (1.30.43) and Melbourne’s Sophie Hayes (1.33.31).

Wilson, 37, put the slower time down to having contested the Gold Coast Marathon in July, which she finished in sub-three hours for the first time.

She was “slowly learning that I can’t do PBs every time I race”.

“I can always tell at the start if I jump up and down whether my legs have any zap in them or not,” she said.

“I knew I didn’t have much zap in my legs today. I ran the first half in a pace I would’ve been happy to finish in, but I couldn’t maintain that pace.”

Wilson said she would next take her running talents to the United States for the iconic New York City Marathon on November 2.

She was among the thousands signed up to compete in the 2012 edition before Hurricane Sandy forced organisers to cancel the event two days out.

Wilson instead contested the Harrisburg Marathon in neighbouring Pennsylvania, but has longed to traipse the streets of the Big Apple.

“It’s the biggest marathon in the world. I’ve heard the atmosphere is electric. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” she said. 

“I was (shattered in 2012), especially because they told us all it was going to go ahead.”

 Brendan Clifford was the first walker home in 2.36.20, while Sue Adamson was the first female walker to cross the line in 2.44.19.