Tom Clark (Civil Service) was rewarded for turning his attention back to running when he won the open men's title of the Barnes Cross-country at Kettle Park yesterday.
Clark (21), a chemistry student at Otago University, had always been a promising junior athlete.
He has recorded open victories in Kelly's Canter, and numerous age group events, along with bronze medals in the national junior 2km steeplechase, South Island and National Secondary Schools 3000m.
But university studies and a talent for music have kept him away from the sport over the past four years.
Clark marked his return to the sport four months ago when he thought it would be a good idea to test himself and see what he could do.
It has not taken long for the rewards to start gathering.
Last week, he was impressive contesting the opening leg for Civil Service in the cross-country relays, setting the team up for victory in the mixed grade and recording the grade's fastest time.
Competing from a handicap of 9min 45sec yesterday, Clark knew he would have to work hard in order to make his way through the field in a short time, given the event is only 5km long, and the fact that the back-markers were starting just 30sec behind him.
As the field began to converge for the final 1.25km lap, it was 1994 champion Morris Hall (Hill City) who was holding a tentative 54sec lead that was quickly being eaten away by Karne Hughes (Ariki).
Entering the final 200m it appeared Hughes had all but bagged the title.
But Clark, with an impressive turn of speed, overtook Hughes 40m out to run through to the line and collect the title in an actual time of 17min 39sec, the fourth fastest behind back-markers Bevan Steven (Caversham) 17min 27sec, Michael Wakelin (Hill City) 17min 32sec, and Cambell Garry (Hill City) 17min 37sec.
Clark hopes to remain on the local scene over winter and regain the Kelly's Canter title in October, throwing down a challenge to Luke Hurring.
"I'd like to see Luke up there and take him on," he said.
"Let's set the challenge."
There was consolation for Hall, Wakelin and Garry when they all featured in Hill City winning the open men's teams trophy.
In another sprint finish, the open women's 3.75km event saw Susanna Greaves (Ariki) hold out Francesca Priest (Auckland City) to claim the title in a sprint finish.
The impressive manner of Greaves' victory was that, in order to achieve her first major athletic title, she held out Priest, who has a 4min 31sec 1500m time under her belt.
Greaves is in her first season of settling into running after experimenting with a wide range of other sports.
"It's only been recently that I thought I'd better get serious about my running," she said of taking up the coaching advice of A. J. Moir.
Greaves (19), a second-year physical education student, looked at her 3min 30sec handicap and thought she might be in with a wee chance.
"Coming down to the finish I wondered where my legs were," she said afterwards.
Greaves had a running time of 17min 15sec for the 3.75km course, while Priest from a handicap of 6min 15sec, recorded the second fastest time of 14min 31sec, with Otago University's Barbara Roy fastest with 14min 27sec.
Third fastest was Rochelle Sceats (Hastings) with 14min 37sec.
As expected, Otago University runners dominated the top half of the field to convincingly win the open women's team title.
