Athletics: Moon and Starr shine brightly up mountain

By Murray McKinnon

Wellington's Melissa Moon and Phil Starr were first to the top of Mt Maunganui on Saturday to claim the New Zealand mountain running titles.

Moon, third at the last two world mountain running championships, went straight to the lead in the double slog to the summit.

With Moon clear, eventually winning in 38m 34s for 8.3km, the focus was on the battle for second between Megan Edhouse, 18th at the 1997 world championships, and Maree Bunce, who finished fourth in the same event last year.

Edhouse, from Kawerau, held on to second by 19s on the final descent with Bunce (Bays Cougars), back running after battling influenza for two weeks, struggling into third in 40m 33s.

Starr, the leading New Zealand junior runner eight years ago when he won the national junior cross-country and road titles, finally, as a 25-year-old, broke through for his senior national title.

"It's great to finally find my feet in the seniors," said a delighted Starr.

It was a race of the Phils from the start, with Phil Costley setting the pace on the first of three climbs to the summit.

Starr remained in contact, and without increasing his speed gained his winning break on the second time up the track stairs.

Starr recorded 49m 04s for the 12.5km, 1m 23s ahead of Costley. Simon Maunder (Counties) was third in 50m 51s.