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Whakatane's Daniel Jones may not be on top of the world but he was certainly the king of the mountain after breaking an eight year old record at Mount Maunganui yesterday.

Daniel was one of the many competitors who braved the heat to be crowned 'King of the Mount” at yesterday's King and Queen of the Mount.

King of the Mount 2015, Daniel Jones from Whakatane finishing in 18 minutes, 32 seconds. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

The Whakatane athlete did it in a time of 18m 32s beating the 2007 record set by Agus Bell by 13 seconds.

Daniel says he was happy with the win.

'It wall went pretty much to plan. You never really know how far [ahead] you are. So you've got to keep pushing hard… I usually try to use the uphill to get my gap and then on the downhill maintain it.”

It's Daniels fifth time competing at the event and he has won it three times previously.

He says having a good understanding of the terrain was a major factor to his win.

'Knowing the course is pretty helpful. It's not too technical so it doesn't really matter too much. I haven't run on this mountain since last year but as long as you're doing some hill work and hill training whenever you can it'll be fine.”

Yesterday's run backed up Daniel's excellent performance at this year's World Xterra Trail Running Championships in Hawaii where he finished second.

'I guess that training and the recovery after that event my legs are still feeling pretty good.”

Daniel got away to a good start with a small group of runners the when he hit the hill he pulled away and the group couldn't keep with him.

The Mount Maunganui King and Queen of the Mount is about 4.5km run along the beach and up Mount Maunganui.

For full results go to orgainsers website.

Second was Bobby Dean from Te Puke finishing in 19 minutes, 22 seconds.

Third was Sjors Corporaal from Galatea finishing in 19 minutes, 32 seconds.

Harrison Fountain, 15, from Te Aroha winning the junior category finishing in 9 minutes 14 seconds.

Second was Regan Wilson, 14, from Whakatane finishing in 9 minutes 34 seconds.

Third was Ben Mitchell, 15, from Dunedin finishing in 9 minutes 38 seconds.