The Cromwell runner was the first New Zealander across the line at the 3000m national championships on Friday night.
Balchin ran 8min 12.10sec to claim the title in the event, held in conjunction with the Capital Classic, in Wellington.
An Australian visitor was first across the line, though, Rorey Hunter setting a meet record of 7min 53.41sec.
Otago athletes Jacob Priddey and Jared Monk finished seventh and 10th respectively.
In the women’s championship race Otago’s Rebekah Greene finished fourth, Hamilton’s Camille Buscomb winning in 9min 08.62sec.
In other races at the Classic, Hill City-University’s Fiona Centers came in eighth and seventh in rapid 100m and 200m respectively.
North Harbour Bays’ Zoe Hobbs took victory in both, running 11.42sec in the 100m to move to second in the all time national rankings.
In the men’s sprints 18-year-old Edward Nketia, also of North Harbour Bays and son of New Zealand 100m record holder Gus Nketia, showed his class.
Lower Hutt’s Josephine Reeves was another to impress. The 18-year-old continued the form she showed in Dunedin last month by clearing 1.81m to win the women’s high jump.
Otago’s Joshua Baan has been named in the New Zealand team to contest the world cross country championships in Denmark in March.
He is joined by former Otago runner Callan Moody, who recently returned to the sport in the United Kingdom.
It was a quiet start to the athletics season in Dunedin on Saturday as the first meeting of the year took place at the Caledonian Ground, although there was a rare appearance by top middle distance runner Sam Bremer.
Bremer has a long season in front of him with a trip to Europe on the agenda, and he lined up in the 800m on Saturday. He recorded a good time of 1min 55.69sec.
Centers returned from Wellington to line up in the 200m and won in a time of 25.45sec.
Rosie Elliott won the 100m in a time of 12.73sec, finishing just .02sec clear of Sophie Napper.
