Olympic finalist Brett Robinson has continued his unbeaten start to the season with a dominant display to bag a third straight Noosa Bolt 5km.
Raging favourite Robinson's victory in 14 minutes 17 seconds on Saturday was never in doubt but he was still made to work all the way in the Queensland heat by training partner Stewart McSweyn (14:19).
"He (McSweyn) pushes me every single day," the 25-year-old said. "It was tough, and it's always tough up here.
"The sun is always on you and these hair-pin turns means it's one of the hardest 5ks you will ever do.
"It really hurts and you have to hold on. Everyone blew up and it's whoever blows up the least."
A creditable 14th in the Rio Games 5000m, Robinson is aiming towards running the 10,000m at next year's world titles in London.
After arriving home sick from the Olympics, he's building a strong platform with four wins from as many races in the past month, including the Melbourne half-marathon (1:06:42) and Burnie 10km in the past fortnight.
Olympic 1500m finalist and Glen Iris teammate Ryan Gregson (14:34) finished fifth, unable to pull off what female counterpart Linden Hall could muster in the women's Bolt.
Hall, who missed the Rio 1500m final by one place, produced a Noosa boilover by outsprinting Olympic teammate Eloise Wellings to win on the line in 16:27.
Victoria Mitchell was third with another Rio Games 5000m finalist, Genevieve LaCaze, was fourth in 16:35.
Hall was unsure where the finish line was and thought she was toast when Wellings went past on the straight.
"I expected she would beat me but then I thought 'actually no, I have a bit more juice' and got there in the nick of time," she said.
"I think I was a bit lucky really."
