Sat, 01 Aug 2009 6:57p.m. By David Di Somma

Australia's Timothy Rowe narrowly beat NZ's Andrew Davidson for the Oceania title

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A desperately close trans-Tasman finish has highlighted the National Cross Country Championships in Christchurch.

The national champs were held at Halswell Quarry, about 20 minutes drive from central Christchurch.

For the first time this event was also the Oceania Championships. And as an extra incentive, the first home in the men's and women's junior and senior races gained automatic selection for next year's world championships in Poland.