Athletics: McIlroy a lone figure in 5000m

Wind, rain and lack of opposition did not stop Wellington runner Kate McIlroy from knocking 48 seconds off her best 5000m time in Auckland last night.

In her first shot at qualifying for next year's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, McIlroy recorded 16 minutes 00.35 seconds, 35sec short of the Games qualifying time.

She is confident she is on the right track to make the team.

"If I can run 16 minutes by myself I should be able to run 15 (min) 25 (sec)."

McIlroy, who won the world mountain running title in Wellington last month, managed to lap the second-placed Kim Newman and double lap third-placed Jo Burkett, both of Auckland.

"I was running it by myself and it was really windy and raining and everything you don't want in a track race," she said today.

"John (coach John Bowden) and I just decided on the night to aim for a personal best.

"So I was stoked, you can't really complain about a 48-second PB."