Despite his legs initially feeling "like concrete", less than 24 hours after running a 10km road race in Queenstown, Inkster-Baynes wasted little time in mixing it with race favourites Daniel Balchin and Tony Payne.
"I went out thinking I should sit with Dan for as long as I could," he said.
Feeling comfortable with the pace, and realising Balchin had a superior kick, Inkster-Baynes decided to go for it at the halfway mark.
"I thought I'd try and get some gap before the finish. I put a wee move on and he just fell off."
Inkster-Baynes (20), has an impressive running background, having been inspired into the sport by multiple national champion Phil Costley while attending St Andrews' College, in Christchurch.
Costley always advised Inkster-Baynes to keep his pace, pick one moment in a race and make it count.
"That was always the best advice he ever gave me and it paid off today."
Inkster-Baynes is now based in Wanaka and coached by Val Burke, with input from high performance guru Mark Elliott.
He has a personal-best time in the half marathon of 1hr 8min and finished fifth in the Christchurch half marathon in June in 1hr 9min.
Inkster-Baynes plans to run his first full marathon in the Challenge Wanaka in January next year. His time on the Dunedin course yesterday was 1hr 12min 34sec, with Balchin second in 1hr 13min 28sec and Payne third in 1hr 15min 28sec.
Although a little disappointed with her time of 1hr 21min 45sec, Alex Williams (Christchurch), was pleased to win the open women's section of the half marathon yesterday.
Williams (30) was using the event as part of her build-up to the Auckland marathon later this year, but her attempt to run a good time was blocked by a steady headwind.
"Quicker would have been nice, but I enjoyed it nonetheless," she said.
Williams was one of many competitors who struggled to secure accommodation in Dunedin over the weekend because of the Rugby World Cup. She grabbed a bed at partner Brent Miller's grandmother's house.
Second in the open women's section was Louisa Andrew in 1hr 21min 45sec, with Sarah Chisnall third in 1hr 26min 10sec.
