Nina Rillstone in 15th and Kate McIlroy 16th led New Zealand to sixth place in the senior women’s long course cross country teams title at the world cross country championships in Fukuoka, Japan yesterday.
Rillstone of Auckland covered the 8km around the seaside parkland course in 26m 39s, 1m 18s behind the winner, 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) 24th in 26m 47s and Melissa Moon (Wellington) 57th in 27m 52s.
Ethiopia won the teams title from Kenya, Japan, Australia and USA.
Lucy Oliver of Canterbury finished 52nd in the junior women’s 6km in 21m 59s, 2m 32s behind the winner.
Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia claimed his fifth consecutive short course title scorching around the 4km in 10m 54s.
source Athletics New Zealand
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