Gorrie (19), one of the promising middle-distance athletes emerging from the Richard Barker stable, shot into the lead early and was never threatened as he continued to extend his advantage with each lap, crossing the finish in 8min 58.57sec, half a lap clear of David Catherwood (Ariki), second in 9min 27.02sec. Matthew Bixley (Hill City) was third in 10min 6.41sec.
Along with a training run over a 35km Waitati circuit, Gorrie will bank the 3000m race in preparation for Saturday's Otago 10,000m championship event, before taking on the national 10,000m track championships in Tauranga on January 3.
Another to take 3000m glory on Saturday was Bill Kenny (Leith), who broke his own Otago age-group record over the distance, recording 14min 54.26.
Kenny only recently broke the mark set two years ago by clubmate Jim Flynn, of 16min 6.06sec in the men's 75-79 age-group, with a mark of 15min 23sec, and thinks he can take the mark even lower.
Kenny has established a bunch of Otago middle-distance records over the past 34 years, many of which still stand, but he was quick to dispel any thought of attempting Flynn's 5000m and 10,000m records.
"No, 3km's my limit. It's far enough."
Other highlights of Saturday's racing. -
• Daniel Balchin (Caversham) overcame blustery conditions to show a clean pair of heels and cruise to victory in the 800m in 2min 0.6sec, with Andrew Stark (Christchurch Avon) second in 2min 3.31sec and Bruce Jenkins third in 2min 17.27sec.
• William Sew Hoy (Hill City) and Liz Wilson (Hill City) dominated the sprints, each recording a clean sweep of the 60m, 100m and 200m events, the triple victory for Wilson coming just a week after dominating the sprints in the South Island Masters Games, where she won gold in the 60m, 100m, 200m and 400m events and added the long jump gold for good measure.
• Hamish Finnie (Hill City) won the hammer throw with a distance of 42.26m, and clubmate Michael Bennett continued to improve with another personal best of 29.87m to finish second. In masters competition, Claire Giles (Caversham) was another to record a big personal best with 21.98m.
• Luke Calder made a successful return to the discus circle, following an absence of 25 years, to win the masters men's 35 age group with a distance of 31.19m.
