17 Jun 2009

Strong mountain running team named

8:03 am on 17 June 2009

New Zealand will have a strong contingent competing at the Commonwealth Mountain Running Championships in England in September.

National mountain running champion Glenn Hughes of Wellington will contest both the 12km up hill race and the up and down 12km race two days later.

James Coubrough of Wellington will also take part in both races. The remainder of the men's team, Dougal Thorburn and Michael Wakelin of Otago, and Auckland's Aaron Jackson and Michael Banks will only compete in the up and down race.

Former world mountain running champion Melissa Moon of Wellington along with Lara Phillips of Canterbury, Sarah Biss of Rotorua and overseas based Anna Frost have been selected for both women's races over eight kilometres.

The mountain running championships will be held in conjunction with the Commonwealth Ultra distance championships. Val Muskett of Waikouaiti, Lisa Tamati (New Plymouth), Vivian Cheng (Wellington) and Alex McKenzie (Auckland) have already been announced as New Zealand's representatives in the 24-hour race.