McIlroy jumps over the Moon

Rookie New Zealander Kate McIlroy hammered the field - including favoured compatriot Melissa Moon - to take the World Mountain Running Trophy yesterday.

While Moon, who finished seventh, picked McIlroy before the race as her biggest threat, few others would have guessed McIlroy would produce the biggest victory in the sport's calendar in just her second mountain running race.

Wellingtonian McIlroy blitzed the competition in the elite women's 9.1km race and coasted to victory in 39m 40s.

The race on Wellington's Mt Victoria attracted 350 athletes and officials from 30 countries. On every lap runners endured a climb of 310m - 114m higher than Mt Eden.

McIlroy, 24, lined up with the national cross-country title plus numerous track titles under her belt after dominating the national athletics scene this year.

"Having the world champs here was a huge motivator, so I thought, 'Why not? I've always been strong at running up hills so I might as well have a go'," McIlroy said.

Her form was quickly transferred to the up-and-down circuit around Mt Victoria as she led after the opening 400m and was never headed.

Once the lithe university student tackled the vicious opening hill climb, she emulated compatriot Jonathan Wyatt - who earlier won the men's 13.5km race - by opening up a big lead which the chasing pack failed to rein in.

In the home stretch her lead grew to more than 2m.

Scotland's Tracey Brindley claimed silver in 41m 42s and Anna Pichrtova of the Czech Republic took third in 41m 59s.

McIlroy led by 1m 36s at the end of the first of two laps.

"I knew I had a big lead but a lot can happen in that second lap so I didn't think I had it in the bag.

"I just had my head down and started concentrating."

Those powers of concentration paid big dividends for an athlete who relished the prospect of racing in her home city.

Moments after winning the title, McIlroy said she did not know if she would make the event her specialty but, in a promising sign for the 2006 Commonwealth Games team, she has fixed her sights on the 5000m on the track.

"I start track training in a few weeks, so I'm looking to concentrate on that."

Moon, the world titleholder in 2001 and 2003, was in awe of McIlroy after watching the destruction first hand.

"She just had amazing strength," Moon said. "I knew she was in awesome form and would zoom up that hill so it was a matter of just gauging where the next girls were.

"When she [McIlroy] made her move, she made it quickly and you know if you can go with somebody or not. She's just starting to come through now and she'll just get stronger and stronger, so it's fantastic.

"She's had her fair share of injuries but persevered and came through it."

- NZPA