Athletics: Costley has 27th title in his sights

Phil Costley will be chasing his 27th national athletics title in the New Zealand cross-country championships in Nelson on Saturday.

Costley, 35, has won the cross-country title four times, and last year in Hastings he dominated the race.

Costley has had a successful winter, winning the New Zealand mountain running title and the national short course cross-country title in Wanganui.

He comes into the 12km race around Rabbit Island with a recent victory in the Canterbury championship, recording an impressive 37m 51.8s for the 12km.

Competition for Costley should come from Alan Bunce, Nick Buck, Benjamin Revell, Jason Cressingham, Glenn Hughes, Flynn Morris-Clarke and Craig Kirkwood.

Some of the excitement has gone from the women's race with the withdrawal of seven-times champion Melissa Moon, due to illness.

The 8km race will be a close battle between defending champion Jess Ruthe and the cross-country find of this season, Kate McIlroy.

McIlroy has mowed down everything this winter, taking the short course title, as well as the North Island and Wellington titles.

Ruthe won the Auckland title race, two weeks ago, by three minutes covering the 8150m in 29m 39s.

- NZPA