Graduation
I went to Foxton last week to have a look at the Manawatu¯ Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships and I was impressed with the number of competitors taking part.
The junior girls’ race was taken out by Kimberley Walsh, of St Peter’s, ahead of Georgie Funnell. She led in Bella Eves, Lucy Burdon and Monique Gorrie to give Palmerston North Girls’ High School victory in the teams’ competition.
The junior boys’ race was dominated by Palmerston North Boys’ High School athletes. They filled the first seven placings, with victory going to possibly the smallest boy in the field, Nelson Doolan. Luke Brown was second across the line, with Thomas Harding third and Jayden Simpion fourth, giving the school the maximum points in the teams’ competition.
The school was able to display a similar dominance in the intermediate race, with 10 runners finishing in the top 13 finishers. Andre Le Pine-day was an impressive winner and Liam Wall followed him home in second place, with Jamie Dennis and William Leong finishing third and fourth to again give the school the maximum points in the teams’ competition.
Awatapu’s Noah Macdermid beat Freyberg’s Theo Purdy in the senior boys’ race. Samuel Phillips, of Boys’ High, was third and Luke Scott fourth. Their placings, Adam Martin’s fifth and Robert Norman’s seventh, were sufficient to give the teams’ competition to Boys’ High. Macdermid’s victory, I think, may complete a unique achievement as he joins both of his sisters, Kara and Zia, as Manawatu¯ School Cross Country champions.
The intermediate girls’ title went to Dannevirke High School’s Stephanie Walker.
Tessa Webb has represented New Zealand at the Secondary Schools World Cross Country Championships, so it was no surprise to see her stride to the front and open up a handy lead over the senior girls’ field as they completed the circuit of the Manawatu¯ College playing fields, before heading into the hilly section of the course.
I expected to see quite a distance between Webb and the rest of the field at the finish, so was quite surprised to see Girls’ High’s Lydia Bamford only about 30 metres behind Webb. The rest of the field was nowhere in sight and arrived several minutes later. Bamford’s effort was outstanding, especially as she is better known for her ability as a long and triple jumper and is more comfortable sprinting over a short distance.
Winter series
We have confirmation the popular track and field winter series is again being held. The meetings will once again alternate between the Masterton and Palmerston North tracks. The Masterton meetings are on July 1 and August 26, and the Palmerston North ones are on July 22 and September 16.
The Masterton events include 100m, 400m, 1500m, 3000/5000m, discus, high jump, shot put and long jump, while Palmerston North will host 60m, 200m, 800m, 3000/5000m, shot put, discus, high jump, long jump and triple jump.
It is always great to be able to congratulate Massey University graduates. It was also great to see our Commonwealth Games representative Ben Langton-burnell and Palmerston North Athletic and Harrier Club captain Pavinee Watson among the graduates.
Cross-country
The cross-country season is well under way. Today, Palmerston North club members travel to Hastings for the Hastings Steeples. Tomorrow is the Manawatu¯ Striders marathon and half marathon.
The Hughes Memorial in Hawera is on June 2 and Wellington’s Dorne Cup is a week later. These events will provide a good lead-in to the New Zealand Secondary Schools Cross Country Championship in Taupo¯ on June 16. The first 12 finishers in both the senior boys’ and senior girls’ events will be invited to be part of the national Secondary Schools team in the Australian Championships on the Sunshine Coast in August.