Lautenslager's win proves a big point

Athletics Nelson's Craig Lautenslager had something to prove at Saturday's Tasman Centre cross-country championships, and proved it in winning the men's 19 and under 8km race.

At the South Island championships in Christchurch three weeks ago, Lautenslager and his team-mate Ewoud Noordeloos, misguided by a confusing course map and absent marshals, sprinted into the finish area for what they thought was first and second place.

They were informed in the finish chute they had to run another 600-metre loop, and struggled back to the finish line in fourth and fifth place, while team-mate Tom Stringer made up a 100m deficit to win the race.

Lautenslager returned to racing on Saturday with a single-minded goal. "I set out to prove that I would have held my position and finished second [in Christchurch]," he said.

Competing in his first 8km race, Lautenslager ran in the lead pack through the second of four 2km loops at Saxton Field and then burst into the lead. He had opened an 80m lead on team-mates Stringer and Joe Dixon by the end of the third loop.

"My race plan was to pick it up halfway," he said. "I felt good, so I went for it and it paid off."

Stringer surged away from Dixon at 7km and cut the lead in half with 500m left.

"I acknowledged they were coming back on me, so I picked it up," Lautenslager said.

Lautenslager finished in 27min 25sec, nine seconds ahead of Stringer, with Dixon third in 28min 8sec and Claude Meffan fourth in 29min 20sec.

Those four runners, Otago University student Noordeloos and Canterbury University student Donald Hilson will represent Tasman at the New Zealand cross-country championships in Waikanae on August 7. Noordeloos finished third in Saturday's Otago cross-country championships and Hilson was seventh in the Canterbury championships.

Mike Lowe dominated the M16 6km race. He finished in 20min 47sec and 2min 13sec ahead of runner-up Allister Meffan. Darron Jones won the senior men's 10km in 37min 48sec and Cliff Bowman took out the masters men's 8km in 28min 21sec. Patrick Meffan was the top men's 50 and over finisher in 30min 3sec.

Fleur Lattimore was the top senior women's finisher, covering the 8km course in 32min 16sec. Lara Malcolm took out the W19 6km race in 26min 58sec, and Emma Dallison won the W16 4km event in 17min 5sec. Carol Cooper was the top masters women's finisher in 26min 47sec, and Dallas Ward won the women's 50 and over grade in 28min 25sec.

Claire Erasmus and Josh Barry dominated the girls' and boys' age 14 and under 3km races.

Wendy Healey was the first race walker across the finish line, covering the 6km course in 35min 14sec. Peter Hague won the men's racewalk in 38min 44sec.

Results: Senior men 10km – Darron Jones, 37min 17sec, 1; Chris Whitaker, 42min 12sec, 2; Mark Heath, 43min 14sec, 3.

M19 8km – Craig Lautenslager, 27min 25sec, 1; Tom Stringer, 27min 34sec, 2; Joe Dixon, 28min 8sec, 3.

M16 6km – Mike Lowe, 20min 47sec, 1; Allister Meffan, 23min 0sec, 2; Thomas Andersen, 23min 25sec, 3.

Masters men 8km – Cliff Bowman, 28min 21sec, 1; Brian Kemp, 29min 43sec, 2; Jon Linyard, 30min 15sec, 3.

Men 50 and over 8km – Patrick Meffan, 30min 3sec, 1; Tim Cross, 30min 46sec, 2; Philip Sim 32min 11sec, 3.

Men's 6km racewalk – Peter Hague, 38min 44sec, 1.

Senior women 8km – Fleur Lattimore, 32min 16sec, 1.

W19 – Lara Malcolm, 26min 58sec, 1; Erin McCauley, 34min 14sec, 2.

W16 – Emma Dallison, 17min 5sec, 1; Pip Dalley 17min 53sec, 2.

Masters women 6km – Carol Cooper, 26min 47sec, 1; Nyle Sunderland, 31min 31sec, 2.

Women 50 and over 6km – Dallas Ward, 28min 25sec, 1; Fran Kerse, 29min 16sec, 2.

Women's 6km racewalk – Wendy Healey, 35min 15sec, 1; Pam Barker, 47min 38sec, 2; Paddy Tarrant, 47min 58sec, 3.

- © Fairfax NZ News