Athletics: Moon, Potts display cross-country class

By MURRAY McKINNON

Cross-country runners Melissa Moon, of Wellington, and Hastings' Richard Potts both showed their class in coming from behind to clinch the North Island titles at Taupo.

Driven by the desire to win the women's title for the seventh year in a row, Moon timed her final kick to perfection, overhauling Sarah Christie 250m from the finish.

Moon recorded 17m 31s for the 5000m - 7s faster than Christie, of Counties.

The early leader, Karen Herdman, of Wanganui, was third in 17m 39s.

After almost giving the race away midway through the senior men's 9000m, Potts found a second wind to accelerate past Jonathan Wyatt, of Wellington, and Simon Maunder, of Counties Manukau, on the final circuit of the Spa Park course.

Potts finished in 28m, with Maunder outsprinting Wyatt for second in 28m 2s.

Moon, four-times New Zealand cross-country champion, will attempt to regain the title, lost last year to Karen Murphy, at the national championships at Manukau City on August 12.

Potts has high hopes for a personal best 10,000m in the Australian Olympic Games trials next month.

The junior men's winner, Jamie Voss, of North Harbour Bays, hopes his success will carry him on to qualify for the 1500m at the world junior track championships in Chile.

Former Olympian Anne Hare, of Wellington, cut 25s off the veteran women's race record with a solo run, covering the 5000m in 18 minutes.