Jack Rayner has taken a major stride towards booking a spot on the Paris Olympics team by claiming a third-successive Australian 10,000m title at the Zatopek:10 meet in Melbourne.
Rayner looked the likely winner with a lap to go on a wet and chilly Saturday evening at Lakeside Stadium, only to be overtaken by flying Irishman Andrew Coscoran (27 minutes 56.37 seconds).
But Rayner still took the national title as the first home runner over the line in 27:57.87, becoming the first Australian since Stewart McSweyn in 2017-19 to win three straight 10,000m crowns.
The 27-year-old national record holder will now turn his attention to bettering the automatic Olympic qualifying standard of 27:00.00 in more favourable conditions in the United States next year.
"This is still ticking the box with the national title and the points with that as well if the time doesn't go to plan," said Rayner, who made his Olympic debut in the marathon in Tokyo in 2021.
"It's my eighth or ninth time doing Zatopek, for a few years I was just a young boy doing it, so it is a bit surreal to be up there.
"I finished third a few years ago so to now win three in a row is pretty special. Persistence pays off.
"You look at the trophy at presentation and the list of names there and to see your name up there with the greats you have looked up to is great."
The legendary Ron Clarke holds the overall record with five Zatopek men's 10,000m titles, ahead of Steve Moneghetti and Andrew Lloyd with four apiece.
Lauren Ryan pocketed a first national title in the women's 10,000m, crossing the line with arms raised in triumph in 32:54.00, ahead of Holly Campbell and Rose Davies.
Matthew Ramsden (8:00.20) won the race of the night in the men's 3000m, finishing one hundredth of a second clear of fellow West Australian Jesse Hunt.
Rising star Cameron Myers was third, with less than a second separating the three place-getters.
Bendere Oboya made a successful return to competition in the rarely-run women's 600m, although her winning time of 1:26.34 was just outside the national record set by Tamsyn Manou back in 2012.
A disillusioned Oboya walked away from the sport earlier this year, only to be coaxed back into action by On Athletics Club Oceania head coach Craig Mottram.
The 23-year-old, who reached the 400m semis at the 2019 world championships, is targeting the 800m at next year's Paris Olympics.
Australian Maudie Skyring came home strong to win the women's 3000m in 8:55.39.
