Bevan Stevens (Caversham) is running the kilometres and is now reaping the rewards of the hard work he has put in this year.
Stevens (24), a carpet layer, is one of a small group of Otago runners practising the Lydiard principles and running 160km a week.
He is expected to continue his success and win the Otago cross-country title on the course at the Waikouaiti race course today.
Stevens is expected to lead the Caversham team to a win in the four-man team race ahead of Ariki.
His back-up runners in the Caversham team are Tony Payne, Lyndon Brown and Daniel Balchin who all finished in the top five at the Edmond Cup last month.
The only runner spoiling complete domination by Caversham in the Edmond Cup was pre-race favourite Dougal Thorburn (Ariki) who finished 19sec behind Stevens.
Defending champion Nathan Baxter (Ariki) is also in the field, but his form has been indifferent this winter and he is not expected to challenge Stevens.
Other key runners in the field include Callan Moody (Ariki) who was third last year, Ollie O'Sullivan who was second, Peter Meffan (Caversham), Elliott Sullivan (Hill City) and the Leith pair of Neale McLanachan and Andrew Lonie.
None of them is expected to challenge Stevens who has been the form runner of the cross-country season and won the Edmond Cup steeplechase by 19sec last month.
Stevens followed this up by taking fastest time in the Brighton to Green Island road race last Saturday.
His winning time was 30min 56sec, 23sec clear of clubmates Daniel Balchin and Tony Payne.
An indication of his dedication was displayed the next day when he ran the gruelling Waitati circuit by himself.
Other runners were feeling the strains of the road race the day before and chose easier options.
Stevens was a promising junior but was almost lost to the sport following a run of disappointing results when he joined the senior ranks.
New Zealand representative Rachel Kingsford (Hill City) is expected to dominate the women's event over the 8km course.
The challenges should come from Kirsty Morris (Leith) who won the Edmond Cup, Megan Balchin (Leith) and Otago University runners Andrea Peat, Barbara Roy and Megan Grant.
The starting times on the Waikouaiti course are: women (8km) 1.30pm; men (12km) 2.15pm.
