The Hill City-University runner set off with a seven-minute handicap, running a time of of 20min 24sec to edge Caversham’s Jayden Toomey in the open 5km race at the Barnes Cross Country.
It was the second year the feature race was open to both genders.
Braun’s time left her the fastest woman outright, finishing in a time quicker than several that had started after her.
HCU also provided the fastest men’s and overall time, in Reuben Beard.
Beard, who started from an 11min 30sec handicap, finished in a rapid 17min 09sec — nearly a minute quicker than the next fastest time.
Emily Hay (Ariki) won the 3.75km race, running an impressive 18min 23sec after her two minute handicap, to finish ahead of Xavier Donnelly.
In the 1.25km race scratch runner Noah Schoenleben (Ariki) led from the start to win in a time of 5min 07sec.
The race is an annual event on the winter athletics calendar, having been first run in 1950.
