Local runners look good for titles

Michael Voss will defend his national under 20 8000m title in Masterton today. PHOTO/FILE A_221115bf23.JPG

Two defending champions from Lake City Athletic Club are competing in the New Zealand Road Racing Championships in Masterton tomorrow.

Michael Voss and Tony Broadhead won the men under 20 8000m and masters men 45-49 10,000m titles respectively when the championships were held in Tauranga last year.

Jason Cameron, also from the Lake City club, is this year in the same 45-49 age group as Broadhead while club-mate Kathy Howard will tackle the masters women 65-69 5000m.

Kim Stevenson coaches all three men, and said that while Voss had been tracking extremely well, he had a set back this week.

''Unfortunately he came down with a (stomach) bug earlier this week, so he has had to cut the training right back because he hasn't been well,'' said Stevenson. ''He did a 30km run on Sunday and felt as strong as an ox and woke up the next morning with stomach problems.''

With eight competitive runners missing as they are in the US on scholarships, Stevenson said the field for the 8000m was not strong.

''I feel he can defend it, but it's going to be hard because I don't know how he's feeling within himself - I spoke to him on Thursday and he felt strong.''

Broadhead is likely to find that clubmate Cameron is one of his biggest rivals.

''Tony is the reigning champion, although Jason has only just moved into that age group and his history is a lot better than Tony's, but they are good mates,'' said Stevenson.

Also in the mix will be Christchurch's Chris Martin.

''(Martin) is very good, but if it comes down to the last kilometre, Jason will have him.''

And if either of them make a mistake, Broadhead could ''nail them both to the wall''.

''Tony is very strong at the moment - he always is - and he's a very good trainer. If he's out there, he gives it 110 per cent.''

Broadhead and Cameron are not just out for individual honours, they have also teamed up with highly fancied Steve Rees-Jones from Hamilton to compete for the over 40 team title representing the Waikato/Bay of Plenty.

''Those over 40 races are the most competitive of the whole thing,'' said Stevenson.

Lake City Athletic Club vice president Pam Kenny said Howard was a regular at national championships, both road running and cross country, and may well secure a top three finish in her race.