Athletics New Zealand has selected six runners to represent the country at the world cross country championships in Mombasa Kenya on 24 March.

Jessica Ruthe of Tauranga and Kimberley Smith, based in the States will compete in the senior women's 8km. Smith has been selected after obtaining medical dispensation.
At the championships in France in 2005 Smith finished a creditable 12th and in 2002 in Dublin was 52nd. In Lausanne in 2003 Smith was 61st in the short course race.
Last weekend in Boston Smith won an indoor 5000m at the St Valentine invitational meeting in 14m 59.62s.
In Fukuoka last year Ruthe was 24th and in 2004 in Brussels was 72nd in the short course and in 2005 was 54th in the short course race.

Regular campaigner Phil Costley of Christchurch will compete in the senior 12km. Costley was outstanding in 2003 in Lausanne finishing 32nd in the long course and 29th in the short course championship.

New Zealand junior road champion Melanie Cleland of Wellington will race in the junior women's 6km.
National junior cross country champion Mathew Mildenhall of Auckland and runner up Jake Robertson of Hamilton will compete in the junior men's 8km. Last year in Fukuoka Robertson finished 45th. Mildenhall has been selected subject to a fitness test.

New Zealand team to world cross country championships, Mombasa Kenya 24 March 2007:
Men.-
Senior: Phil Costley (Chch).
Junior: Mathew Mildenhall (Akld) (subject to fitness test), Jake Robertson (Hamilton).
Women.-
Senior: Jessica Ruthe (Tauranga), Kimberley Smith (Overseas based) (selected on medical dispensation).
Junior: Melanie Cleland (Wgtn).
Manager: Rosemary Wright (Tauranga)