Ariki runners Simon Kerr (left) and Greg Brockbank run
through the drizzle during the open men's 4000m race during
the Otago cross-country championships at the Waikouaiti
racecourse on Saturday. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
A glance over his shoulder before entering the finishing
chute was all it took for Matt Lambert (Ariki) to know he had
secured victory in the Otago cross-country championships on
Saturday.
Lining up at the start of the 12km senior men's race at
Waikouaiti racecourse, Lambert knew there were "at least six
or seven others" capable of winning.
"I thought I'd then just get stuck in and see how things
went, and run my own race."
Lambert (21) a third-year physical education student,
finished third last year, and has been troubled since with
glandular fever which forced him from track and field
competition over the summer months.
A promising middle-distance athlete, Lambert ended the
2006-07 season with a bronze medal in the junior men's 1500m
at the national track and field championships.
Originally from Nelson, Lambert has come under the coaching
arm of Greg Laughtenslager, who has guided his progress
during his three years in Dunedin.
The combination had immediate success when Lambert won the
Otago junior cross-country title (8000m) two years ago.
Confident his bout of glandular fever was behind him, Lambert
entered Saturday's event with the thought of "just having a
go" and using the race as part of building his base for
summer competition.
He initially took on the front of the field with Edmond Cup
champion Sam Kidd (Otago University) and Ariki club-mate
Callan Moody.
Also forcing the pace up front over the opening two laps was
another Ariki representative, James List, along with John
Winsbury (Leith).
Lambert began to apply pressure at the halfway stage and
opened up a small lead, with only Kidd and Moody managing to
maintain close contact.
Lambert continued to edge away to record what appeared in the
end a comfortable victory in 40min flat.
Moody finished 32sec back in second place with Kidd third in
40min 59sec.
"That's one tough race", Lambert said at the finish.
Despite being a little leg weary, Shireen Crumpton (Hill
City) held on to her early lead to win the senior women's
title.
The 37-year-old nurse had been mistakenly entered in the
master's women's grade in an earlier race, but was adamant
that it was the senior title she was chasing.
"I'll stay senior as long as I'm competitive," she said after
the race.
For Crumpton, who just two weeks ago won the women's section
of the Gold Coast Marathon, there were not many threats to
her status as Otago's top distance runner.
She won the senior women's race for the ninth time in 31min
11sec.
Second was Kirsty Morris (Leith) in 31min 22sec, with Rachel
Kingsford (Hill City) third in 31min 35sec.
Other highlights were: Tony Payne (Caversham) outclassing a
highly competitive field to win the junior men's title.
Payne shot out to an early lead and remained unchecked to win
the 8000m event in 27min 49sec.
Romana Salis (Hill City) in commanding form to retain the
junior women's title in 23min 25sec.
Anna Kean (Ariki) dominating the 3000m girls 14 event,
recording an impressive 12min 8sec.
Anna-Lisa Uttley (Ariki) recording a convincing victory in
the girl's 16-and-under race, recording an outstanding 15min
52sec for the 4000m.
Greg Brockbank (Ariki) returning to competitive running after
a two-month layoff to win the open men's 4000m in 13min
58sec.
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