Jonathan Wyatt, in his first track race in two years, collected his second New Zealand 10,000m title in Inglewood on Saturday 22 January.
Wyatt led for almost the entire distance, succumbing to a spirited sprint from Australia's Russell Dessaix-Chin over the final 200m. Dessaix-Chin recorded 29:40.23 with Wyatt finishing in 29:44.01.
Wyatt said he had forgotten how tough racing on the track was. "It is nice to pick up a New Zealand title, but it was a tough race. It was a hard hit out to see how my form is. I now know that I have a lot of work to do," said Wyatt whose racing schedule is focussed on the defence of his World Mountain Running title in Wellington, new Zealand in September.
Nicole Cope of Auckland won her first national athletic title winning the women's 10,000m in 34:26.62. Cope was second in the race, won by Kate Smyth of Australia in 34:12.16.
Athletics New Zealand