Leading the way were the division one team of Julia Edwards, Georgina Beech, Karinna Fyfe, Sarah Lund and Bendigo-based Meredith Cook, who covered the 33.2km journey in 2 hours 4.45 minutes.

They finished seven minutes clear of their nearest rival.

The results consolidated Glenhuntly’s positions at the top of all four team ladders in the Athletics Victoria Cross Country and Road Racing series (XCR’12).

Glenhuntly is well placed to replicate the incredible premiership clean sweep from last year.

Lund said the results were a testament to the depth of talent at the club and the commitment of its athletes to fielding the best teams possible.

“The enthusiasm and teamwork is great,” she said.

“Everyone really works together, and there’s a great social side to it as well.”

Extending out to 43.7km over six legs, the men’s races division one and two titles were won by the powerful Knox Athletics outfit.

After racing to an early lead, the division one team of Chris Discombe, Ben Toomey, Sam Crowther, Kane Wille, Jordan Williamsz and Jordan Nelson clocked 2 hours 16min 44sec for a commanding victory ahead of Ballarat Region (2 hours 21min 53sec).

Third placegetter was Frankston (2 hours 23min 56sec), ahead of Box Hill (2:24), and Glenhuntly (2:25.26).

Nelson said the team had rated themselves a strong chance leading into the race, a point demonstrated by his pre-planned “aeroplane” celebration across the finish line at the La Trobe University Bendigo athletics complex in Flora Hill.

“The guys thought I had the best celebration, so they told me to do the last leg and do whatever I felt like if we won.”

Knox moved ahead of Box Hill on the division one table.

There are four rounds to be run.

Athletics Bendigo’s team of Phil Noden, Michael Preece, Trevor Kelly, Paul Boxshall, Kyall Britten and Tom Savage was fourth in division two.

The AB line-up achieved a time of 2:38.09 as it pursued Knox, Glenhuntly and Box Hill.

A great day for Bendigo included second placing in the division five men’s race.

Charles Chambers, Leigh Browell, Peter Cowell, Mike Bieleny and Rhys Lias clocked a time of 2:05.44 as Ballarat won in 2:02.21.

Athletics Bendigo was represented by two mixed teams in the men’s division seven event.

Stephanie Kondogonis, Jordan Boal, Peter Le Busque, Anne Buckley and Tom Noden completed the race in 2:17.53 to be runner-up.

The line-up of Ryan Brook, Hunter Gill, Kathy Heagney, Yvette Tuohey and William Noden were fourth in 2:30.59.

Other winners were Ballarat (div. 3 men, div. 6 men, div. 7 men); and Doncaster (div. 4 men).

There were 113 teams competing across 11 divisions in the relays.

This year’s Coliban Ekiden was one of the biggest since the inaugural event in 1997.

The race is inspired by the traditional ekiden relays of Japan, where each team carries a special “Tasuki” sash that is passed from runner to runner