Athletics: Rillstone, McIlroy lead cross-country effort

Nina Rillstone was 15th and Kate McIlroy 16th to lead New Zealand to sixth place in the senior women's long course cross-country teams championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

Rillstone, of Auckland, covered the 8km course in 26m 39s, 1m 18s behind the winner and reigning world short and long course champion Tirunesh Dibaba, of Ethiopia.

McIlroy (Wellington) clocked 26m 47s. Completing the New Zealand team were Jess Ruthe (Tauranga), who was 24th in 26m 47s, and Melissa Moon (Wellington) 57th in 27m 52s.

Ethiopia won the teams title from Kenya, Japan, Australia and the US.

Lucy Oliver of Canterbury finished 52nd in the junior women's 6km in 21m 59s, 2m 32s behind the winner.