Jack Rayner: Australian athlete wins fourth straight 10,000m title in Melbourne

Middle-distance star Jack Rayner has joined some famous names after snaring his fourth consecutive 10,000m national title with victory at the Zatopek:10 track challenge in Melbourne.

Rayner won Saturday night’s event in a time of 28 minutes 26.12 seconds to claim his fourth straight national crown.

The legendary Ron Clarke holds the overall record with five national men’s 10,000m titles, ahead of Steve Moneghetti, Andrew Lloyd and Rayner with four apiece.

Last year Rayner was overtaken by Irishman Andrew Coscoran (27 minutes 56.37 seconds) on the final bend, but the Victorian still took the national title as the first home runner over the line in 27:57.87.

On Saturday night, Rayner finished first out of all runners, and held up four fingers shortly after crossing the line.

Tasmanian Samuel Clifford (28:29.17) finished second, while Kiwi Oliver Chignell (28:35.08) was third.

Marathoner and 2020 winner Brett Robinson set the pace for most of the race but faded to finish fourth.

“They don’t come easy, so very stoked to get another one,” Rayner said.

It capped off a topsy-turvy year for Rayner, whose hopes of competing at the Paris Olympics were dashed when he missed selection.

Rayner had broken his own national record competing in California in March, crossing in 27:09.57, but injury meant he was unable to crack the Paris qualifying mark for the 10,000m, which was 27:00.00.

In the women’s 10,000m race, Rose Davies won her third Zatopek:10 title after producing an excellent late kick.

Paris Olympian and Australian record-holder Lauren Ryan took the lead with 300m to go, but Davies hit back with a huge sprint finish to win in a time of 32:21.71.

Ryan finished second in 32:23.30, while Leanne Pompeani was third in 32:32.51.

The US-based Ryan - a Victorian who now lives in Baltimore - was 13th in the 10,000m in Paris in 31:23.15, the fastest time by an Australian woman at an Olympics.

But the 26-year-old couldn’t match it with Davies’ power at the death.

“I’m really happy. It’s such a good way to finish off my year,” 24-year-old Davies said.

“All the girls are running so well, and it motivates me to be better.”

In other events, Olympic discus bronze medallist Matt Denny competed in the shot put for the first time since 2015, finishing third with 18.38m.

Great Britain’s Scott Lincoln took out the event with a throw of 19.61m.

In the women’s Open 3000m, Olympian Linden Hall won in a time of 8:43.02, well ahead of Abbey Caldwell (8:51.49) and Amy Robinson (8:56.53).

“I didn’t really know what to expect. It’s probably the same for everyone rolling up in December,” Hall said.

“It’s a really fun way to break up training, and give yourself a goal before Christmas.”