Athletics: Henwood in swift 10,000m

John Henwood, of Wellington, qualified for the world athletics championships in Edmonton, Canada, this year when he won the national men's 10,000m championship in a smart time at Inglewood.

It is believed Henwood's winning time of 27m 57.43s is the first under 28m for 10,000m in a race in New Zealand since 1976.

Running for the Counties Manukau club, Henwood was ecstatic at the finish of the race. His win puts him in the same league as such big names in New Zealand athletics as Dick Tayler and Dick Quax.

The 28-year-old Henwood put his success down to the fast Mondo track at Inglewood's Jubilee Park and two race pacemakers, who he said helped to push him through.

Chasing Henwood home was fellow Wellingtonian and world mountain-running champion Jonathan Wyatt, and Robbie Johnston, who was third.

Meanwhile, a dislike for running 10,000m track events did not prevent Wellington's Melissa Moon recording a personal best time for the distance when winning the women's championship.

Moon made most of the pace, giving away the front for a short time five laps from home to Shireen Crumpton before regaining control on the final lap and going on to win in a time of 33m 46.91s.

Moon was running for the Wellington Scottish club and is the reigning national 5000m, marathon and cross-country titleholder.

The 31 year-old, who is preparing for next month's London marathon, said she found 10km track events boring and for that reason rarely competed at the distance.

"I just kept thinking I was running round the bays in Wellington and that seemed to help," she said.

Crumpton, representing Counties Manukau, fought strongly when headed to chase Moon home and there was a gap back to third-placed Meagan Edhouse.

One of the favoured runners, Gabrielle O'Rourke, dropped off the pace 10 laps from home in the 25-lap event. She was eventually lapped on the final circuit.

- NZPA