Phil Costley should follow up his New Zealand mountain running title with victory in the New Zealand short course cross country championship in Wanganui on Saturday.

The Canterbury runner has won the 4km cross country title twice, in 2002 in Blenheim and 2003 at Trentham. Since winning his first national title in the 3000m steeplechase in 1994, Costley has amassed 25 New Zealand running titles on the track, cross country, mountain and road.

Competition in the championship, held in conjunction with the New Zealand secondary schools championships around the Wanganui Collegiate School grounds, should come from Alan Bunce and Tom Mayo from Bays, Kim Hogarth of Palmerston North and Tauranga's Mark McKeown. Bunce won the inaugural short course title around Hagley Park Christchurch in 2000.

Kate McIlroy of Welllington should follow up her win last Saturday in the Dorne Cup race at Trentham, with a successful defence of her women's short course title. Sarah Morgan of Matamata, the national 19 cross country champion, should be amongst the medals at the finish. There is a strong representation from the Murrihy family from Taumarunui in the women's championship with Demelza, Natasha and Melissa entered. National 800m and 1500m champion Melissa Thomas will be competing.

Terefe Ejigu of Wellington College, Shirley Boys' Hayden McLaren and Tim Hodge of Tawa College all have strong claims for the schools senior boys' title.

Auckland school runners will also be in the hunt with Matthew Mildenhall of Auckland Grammar, William Curtayne of St Kentigerns, Aaron Jackson of Kelston Boys' High and Biruk Belachew of Mt Roskill Grammar.

Contenders for the senior girls' title are Hayley Green of Samuel Marsden, Becky Holland of Rangiora, Billie Farrow from Rangi Ruru Girls' School, Louise Dewes from Freyberg Palmerston North and Renee Kraakman from St Kentigern.

The first race starts at 11.10am, the senior girls is at 1.30pm, senior boys at 2.30pm, with the national women's short course at 12.30pm and the men's short course at 2.00pm.

Powell's time was clocked as 9.78 seconds equaling the existing world record, but a few minutes later the time was rounded down officially to 9.77 (wind 1.6m/s). His reaction time at the start was 0.150.

Powell told the IAAF he was confident going into the race. "I knew that I could do it," he said. "I did my best. It feels great to be the fastest man of the world."

When asked how fast he could go this season, Powell replied: "Who knows? 9 something...I love Greece and I will come back here next year."

For more information on the Tsiklitiria Super Grand Prix, visit: www.iaaf.org.

source Athletics New Zealand