Sam reflects on success

SAM Clifford is our new cross-country king after becoming the only Tasmanian to win a gold medal at the School Sports Cross Country Championships in Hobart on the weekend.

A HOME advantage has helped Sam Clifford claim gold at the School Sports Cross Country Championships over the weekend.

Clifford was the only Tasmanian to win gold for his state at the championships, which hosts teams from each state and territory around Australia and a team from NZ. This year the championships were held in Hobart at the Rokeby Police Academy and being able to train at the track before the event is something Clifford credits for his win.

“I did have a little practice run on the course before the championships,” the year-nine Riverside High School student said. “The course has been modified a bit for the event but I think it helped me remember some technical stuff about the course and prepare what the conditions may be like.”

Clifford’s race for the age group of 14-15-year-old boys was run on Saturday in wet and windy conditions.

The 15-year old was the only competitor in his race to break 12 minutes, winning in a time of 11min 51sec.

After a rest day on the Sunday, Clifford joined his Tasmanian team to run in the 5x2km relay. Along with Christopher Law, Sam Talbot, Ben Saint-John and Jamie Laurence, Clifford and his team took third place.

“It was a pretty tight race in the end,” Clifford said.

“I started off and got a lead and it was neck and neck the whole race.”

Tasmania finished the championships being awarded with the most relay improvement trophy, Cross Country Improvement Trophy and the Aggregate Improvement Trophy.