Athletics: Cross-country relay win breaks monopoly

Kimberley Smith was the catalyst for the first win by the Counties Manukau women's cross-country team in the annual Southland Centennial shield relays at Mt Roskill.

The women's relay has been dominated by Owairaka and North Harbour Bays for the past 14 years, but Smith, with the fastest overall time for the 3000m lap of 10m 28s, gave Counties a 22s lead over Auckland City and Bays after the first lap.

Jane Anderson held on to a 30s advantage over Bays' Michelle Prowse after lap two and national 3000m steeplechase champion Rachel Penney anchored Counties home 40s ahead of Leonora Joy, of Bays.

North Harbour Bays retained the fastest-time honours in the men's relay over five laps.

In lap two Alan Bunce raced around the War Memorial Park in 8m 35s, the fastest overall time, to cut into Counties Manukau's lead.

Stephen Lett, the New Zealand under-18 3000m champion, had Bays ahead on lap three and Dale Warrander and Stuart Kerr wrapped it up to finish 50s ahead of Counties.

Auckland University made it three years in a row in the veteran men's event.

Bays retained the veteran women's fastest-time honours and Papakura won the under-16 relay.