The good form Andrew Lonie
displayed in winning the masters title in the Otago
cross-country carried over to victory in the national event
on Saturday.
In the masters men's 35-39 grade, Lonie (35) outclassed a
strong field that included last year's runner-up, Chris Robb
(Auckland).
Lonie pulled away from Robb and Auckland's Mike Waterman in
the final stages to secure Otago's only gold medal at the
national championships on the Waikanae Park course near
Wellington.
The recent rain in the area had little effect on the course,
allowing for firm underfoot conditions. Lonie completed the
8000m course in 28min 41sec, Robb clocked 29min 16sec, with
Waterman third in 29min 34sec.
There was further success for Lonie when results in other
grades set up a silver medal in the teams section for masters
men 35-49.
Michael Wakelin finished second in the men's 40-44 behind
reigning champion Richard Bennett (Canterbury), with Richard
Hendry ninth in the same grade, and Ray Knox seventh in the
masters men 45-49.
The Otago four earned 46 points to take silver behind
Wellington on 37.
Despite some disappointing individual results, the Otago
junior men's team won the bronze medal with Campbell Garry
finishing seventh, Tony Payne 13th, Lyndon Brown 16th and
Daniel Balchin 24th.
Otago's only other success came in the masters women's grade
with Sue Cuthbert, a gold medallist in the women's 35-39 last
year, winning bronze in the 40-44.
In the 45-49, Marion Maxwell and Maria Sleeman mirrored their
results from last year with Maxwell winning silver and
Sleeman finishing fourth.
Shireen Crumpton finished fourth in the senior women's event.
Ben Ruthe (Waikato) won the senior men's title in 39min
34sec.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.