Last year it was junior Aaron Pulford who cleared out, and last night it was Takapuna runner Stephen Lett's turn to fly solo on his way to back-to-back national 10,000m track titles at Tauranga Domain.
Pulford ran alone almost from the opening lap to win the race outright, and the M19 division, in 29m 52.51s last year in Tauranga, with Lett shaking off Alex Parlane over the final 1000m to win the senior national title in 30m 25.76s.
Last night's effort was comparatively companionless as 27-year-old Lett shook off Andrew Haigh and Jonathan Jackson through the first kilometre and paced himself for the remaining 22-and-a-bit revolutions of the Domain.
His winning time - 30:36.35 - was 10sec outside his effort 12 months ago as he builds to a crack at the 5000m at the national track and field champs in Waitakare in March.
Remarkable Katikati runner Sally Gibbs (Athletics Tauranga) was in record-breaking mood again, winning the senior women's title with ease in 34:45.21, a time that smashed Bernie Portenski's W45 national record by 50sec.
Gibbs and Hamilton City Hawks' Sarah Biss sat shoulder-to-shoulder before Gibbs, kicked clear at the 6km mark to win easily.
Lett's solitary sojourn last night got the blame for his slower time.
"I usually start a bit slower and finish quick but tonight seemed to be the opposite for some reason - running by yourself does make a bit of a difference. "My time at 5km [15:06] was the same but it's that bit harder on the track and having a couple of guys with you to share laps, meaning you can hide for a lap, certainly seems to make it easier.
"It's probably more of a mental effort required than anything because going solo you have to concentrate a lot more and focus on your own effort, but I went out at the pace I wanted to go and and no one came with me."
Lett was chasing a sub-30min time but his lack of back-end pace meant he faded over the last 4km. "It didn't quite happen but last year I had Jono [Jackson] and Alex around for company."
Jackson (Auckland City Athletics) was in the silver medal position for half the journey, hitting 5km in 15:22, closely followed by Luke Hurring (University of Canterbury) but gave up the spot soon after, with Hurring second home in 30:57.25 and Jackson holding on for third (31:07.59). Athletics Tauranga's Angus Bell ran well for fifth, with Alex Gorrie (32:03.31) taking the M20 title.
Lett, who won the 10km, half marathon and road titles last year, has his sights set on the 5km track title US-based Nick Willis won last year in Dunedin.
RESULTS 10,000m New Zealand Champs (Tauranga Domain)
M20: Alex Gorrie (University Canterbury) 32:03.31, Malcolm Hodge (University Canterbury) 34:28.46, Talor Gilmer (Wellington Harriers) 34:59.83.
Senior women: Sally Gibbs (Athletics Tauranga) 34:45.21, Sarah Biss (Hamilton City Hawks) 35:09.79, Kellie Palmer (University Canterbury) 35:39.21.
Senior men: Stephen Lett (Takapuna) 30:36.35, Luke Hurring (University Canterbury) 30:57.25, Jonathan Jackson (Auckland City Athletics) 31:07.59, Cory Whiting (Hamilton City Hawks) 31:40.92, Angus Bell (Athletics Tauranga) 32:08.94.