New Zealanders Sam Gaze and Ben Oliver have won gold and silver at the cross-country final at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Gaze attacked with two laps of the eight-lap course to go, opening out a 40-second over Oliver with one lap remaining.

The 26-year-old defending champion cruised home for back-to-back titles in 1hr 34min 19sec, with Oliver second in 1:34.50.

Gaze said he had poured everything into the race over a course which was technical and challenging.

Oliver, who finished fourth at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, was satisified with the silver behind the in-form Gaze.

Teammate Anton Cooper, who took silver behind Gaze at the Gold Coast Games four years ago, was yesterday forced out of the race after contracting covid.

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