Athletics: Carson, Pulford set for 10,000m duel

Hamish Carson, in yellow, is in a small field contesting the national 10,000m track title.

Hamish Carson and Aaron Pulford look likely to battle it out for the New Zealand 10,000m men's track title tomorrow in Auckland and Lydia O'Donnell will start warm favourite in the women's race.

Carson returns to the track this season keen to add the national 10,000m championship to the half marathon and 1500m titles he won last year.

Pulford has the fastest time in the field and he will be seeking the senior title to add to the junior 10,000m titles he won in 2010 and 2011.

Pulford recorded a time of 29:07.33 in last month's Zatopek meeting in Melbourne.

The two classy runners face a small but strong field in the New Zealand Championships at Mt Smart Stadium.

Stephen Lett, who won the title in 2011 and 2012, is back for another crack.

In 2011, Lett also won the national half marathon title.

Caden Shields will be defending the title he won last year in Timaru in 31:32.85.

Also competing are Oska Inkster-Baynes, the Otago champion in 32:17.93, and the 2012 national half marathon champion, Jono Jackson, fifth last year and third in 2012, Alex Parlane, second in 2011, and Josh Maisey, sixth last year.

Lydia O'Donnell has every chance of winning the women's title.

She is in good form having run a 3000m time trial last week in 9:30.79.

O'Donnell was third in the 2011 national 10km road championships in 35:18 and third in the 2012 national 1500m.

Kelly Parlane, third in the Auckland Marathon in November in 2:54:14, will test herself over 10,000m.

Michelle Hopkins, second last year in 38:27.26 and second in 2010 in 36:13.75, will be after the topspot.

So will Alice Mason, who won the 2008 Sir Barry Curtis 10km road race in 33:36 and is expected to put on a good showing in this event.

Sarah Klein, from Melbourne, who has a 10km road time of 35:15 to her credit, will also be competing.

Matthew Dryden, of Christchurch Avon, who ran 32:37 in last year's Governors Bay to Lyttelton 10km road race, is the sole competitor in the junior men's championship.

The combined championship 10,000m races start at 7.45pm at Mt Smart Stadium tomorrow.