Bendigo’s line-up of Harriers’ clubmates Ben Stolz, Matt Hooke and Eric Baker and University’s Jim Russell finished five minutes clear of Old Xaverians in the Ekiden Relay showdown.

Stolz completed the 9.8km leg in 38.25, Hooke raced 8.8km in 34.50.

Racing in XCR for the first time this season, Russell ran the 7.9km leg in 39.50, and Baker completed 5.2km in 25.59.

Overall time for Bendigo was 2:19.04.

Victory has put Bendigo on top of the series table and 18 points clear of its nearest rival in the race for team honours.

Meanwhile, many of Australia’s rising stars in cross country action raced in last Saturday’s running of the School Sport Australia championships in Hobart.

The Victorian line-up for the titles included Rochester Secondary College’s Yazmin Hayes and Bendigo South East’s Wil McCaig.

Both raced the 4km duel for the 14-15 years age group.

Hayes achieved a time of 15.06 to be 37th overall.

McCaig raced to the line in 13.15 to be 44th in his class.

The national titles were run at Rokeby Police Academy.

Next major hit-out for several of the Flack Advisory Bendigo Region’s best will be the Australian cross-country titles on August 26 at Kembla Joggers XC Park in Wollongong.