Athletics: Costley forced to wait

Phil Costley won't get the chance to win a sixth consecutive title after injury forced him out of the New Zealand cross country championships in Mosgiel tomorrow.

Costley missed the recent Canterbury championships as he was nursing a sore leg. He is having tests to see if he has a stress fracture. Costley will need to wait for another crack at achieving 30 national running titles.

Competition for the title is expected to come from Aucklanders Edwin Henshaw and Sam Dobson and Rees Buck of Wellington.

Maria Akesson of Auckland will face challenges from Otago's Sarah Chisnall and Kellie Palmer, Renee Graham of Taranaki and Rowan Baird of Auckland in the women's race.