Impressive efforts at slippery cross-country
Last Wednesday I travelled to Foxton to have a look at the Manawatu secondary schools cross-country championships.
It was the first time I have attended this event and I was impressed with the organisation.
Morning rain had made the demanding course quite slippery, especially in many of the hill sections, which had to be traversed in both directions by athletes.
Staff and volunteers were stationed around the course ready to offer any assistance.
Results from this event have already been covered and there were some very impressive performances particularly in the girl’s events.
Tessa Webb attacking both the downhill and uphill section of the big hill, perhaps the highlight. While most athletes were down on hands and knees climbing up the hill, Tessa went up it like a mountain goat.
Whilst the girls races were clear cut, there was a lot closer racing in the boys events, which was an almost complete domination by Palmerston North Boys’ High School runners. While out on the course I witnessed a great piece of sportsmanship that possibly went un-noticed.
After negotiating the difficult downhill section, India Stewartwithers had the misfortune to lose one of her shoes and continued with only one shoe.
I retrieved her shoe and as the athletes returned on their home journey, I went to pass India her shoe.
The team-mate running with her asked for the shoe and carried it home, enabling India to have two hands free to help her scramble up the steep incline.
When I saw the photo of the Boys’ High junior team my eyes were immediately drawn to the pint-sized runner in the photo.
I was to discover this runner was Nelson Doolan, a name I was familiar with.
The Nelson Doolan I knew was the rugby coach responsible for bringing the Freyberg Old Boys senior team I played in from the competition easy beats to a championship-winning team.
The Freys were in their early days of competing in the senior competition and found victories hard to come by.
Things changed once Nelson took over as coach, fitness levels improved and after a few upset victories, the team soon became the crowds favourite.
Within two seasons the team climbed from cellar dwellers to club champions.
The Boys High’s Nelson Doolan may have a big name to live up to, but despite his small frame, he can certainly tramp around the cross-country courses, finishing a very good second in the junior event.
One can only imagine how good he will become once his growth spurt kicks in.
I have received confirmation that the very successful winter track and field series will once again be held again this year.
The provisional dates are meeting one to be held in Masterton on Sunday, June 25, meeting two in Palmerston North on July 16, meeting three in Masterton on August 6, with the final meeting in Palmerston North on September 10.
With a number of athletes from the region selected to compete overseas during the off season, these meetings can give athletes the opportunity for
some competition.
I was saddened to learn of the passing of Paul Broederlow last week.
Not only we do remember him as a great footballer, but his daughters Hannah and Emily were both past members of the Palmerston North club and we extend our sympathy.
Some great news from Bradyn Popow, in that he has received notification from Athletics New Zealand that his performance of 30m 51.99s in the 5000m walk at Wellington on February 4 has been accepted as a New Zealand under-17 record.
It’s always great to see members or former members excelling in other sports.
We have seen Steph Dickins playing for the Black Sticks and scoring her first goal. And Anabel Romero-gemmell is now ranked second in Squash New Zealand’s under-11 ranking list.
On Sunday Manawatu Striders will be conducting their event, with all events starting and finishing at the Massey rec centre.
The day kicks off early with the marathon walkers starting at 7am, followed an hour later by the marathon runners.
The half marathon walkers will stride out at 8.30am, followed an hour later by the runners.
There is lots of action from 10am on, with the 10km walkers and runners starting and they will be followed at 10.10am by the 5km contestants.
The kids mara-fun, offering the option of a 2.3km run or a shorter 700m run, starts at 10.15am. They are great events to take part in or for the less energetic to watch.