Stefan hitting his stride at cross country

Cross country runner Stefan Przychodzko is starting to take his running seriously.

Since coach Mark Harris took him under his wing about a year ago, his times have improved, and so have his placings.

In fact, Przychodzko, 17, who had been virtually self-coached until a couple of years ago, won every regional event he competed in during the past year, and is in the national secondary schools cross country team competing in Australia next month.

‘‘I’ve kind of taken running a lot more seriously lately,’’ he said.

So seriously, that he is currently the top under-20 cross country runner in Wellington. The only thing eluding him is a national title.

He placed in the top 10 at the National Secondary Schools Cross Country champs in Rotorua in June, earning him a place in the New Zealand team to the Australian championships next month.

Last weekend the Paraparaumu College student took out the Wellington U20 cross country champs at Grenada North. He had won the previous two years, but was concerned because the competition had shifted from his fam- iliar home course.

‘‘The event was held at Waikanae Park the previous two years,’’ he said. ‘‘I liked the course, but it was not as good as Waikanae.’’

Both the U20 and the senior runners ran together for their respective titles and Przychodzko’s aim was to keep up with the seniors. For the most part, he did. Just two were ahead of him.

‘‘I didn’t quite hold onto the top senior runners – that was my aim,’’ he said.

Earlier in the year he competed in the Shaw Baton and University relays and the Dorne Cup. He was the fastest in his grade in each race. He also took out the Wellington Secondary School Cross Country title, after coming fifth the previous two years. He rates that win as his best performance.

‘‘I really wanted to get that, I was really happy,’’ he said. ’’I’m still looking for a national title, though.’’

Przychodzko attributes his recent top performances to the implementation of Harris’s weekly training plan.

‘‘It seems to have been working really well. It’s quite a big change, he gives me a real tight schedule, but it has definitely paid off.