Running: Maunder a cut above in cross-country champs

Simon Maunder successfully defended his Auckland cross-country title around the Auckland Domain in a lead-up to the world mountain running championship in Bergen, Germany, on September 9.

The 27-year-old was a cut above the rest of the small field of 27 on Saturday, winning by more than a minute ahead of Counties-Manukau clubmate Mark Pulman in 39m 14s for the 12,000m.

Maunder, the New Zealand 3000m track champion, will now concentrate on running 12km uphill and has a mountain race lined up in Italy and Austria before the world title race.

"Unfortunately, I will miss the New Zealand cross-country championships, because I fly out for Europe the day before," he said.

Maree Bunce also assessed her fitness before the world mountain champs, with a convincing win in the women's championship.

Bunce who confessed to not being at her usual running level, covered the 8000m in 31m 36s.

The New Zealand duathlon champion, Nicole Cope, was second in 31m 59s.

With Bunce and Cope both running for North Harbour Bays and competing for the Athletics North championship, Linda Black, of Owairaka, in third won the Auckland title.