Westlake teens run at world champs

Some of New Zealand’s top young runners haven’t always been leading the pack.

Westlake Boys High School’s Murdoch McIntyre, David Moore, Daniel Robertson, Blair Hill, Zach Keenan and Stuart Hofmeyr form New Zealand’s schoolboy team to race at the ISF World Cross Country Championships in Paris in April 2018.

While Clark, McIntyre and Hofmeyr have had international experience as recent as the Australian Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships this month, their coach Theuns Strydom said the rise of the runners is impressive.

‘‘Most of the boys have not competed in running before they came to Westlake,’’ Strydom said.

‘‘Daniel Robertson was one of the weakest boys in the group in year 9, when he started off. It is amazing to think he is on his way to a world event to represent New Zealand.’’

The boys, who are all under 16 years old and will be at least a couple of years younger than their international opposition, will get full New Zealand colours for the team competition over 5000 metres.

‘‘Some of our boys have raced as individual athletes at world champs before, but having six boys representing New Zealand, and Westlake on the world stage is a first,’’ Strydom said.

‘‘Racing at a world event will without a doubt be a step up for the boys. However, the boys have worked extremely hard over the

‘‘Racing at a world event will without a doubt be a step up for the boys.’’ coach Theuns Strydom

last two years and they know what is required to be successful in running.’’

With six months to go until the world event, the boys will focus on the New Zealand secondary schools road race and track and field championships in December, before spending their summer holidays preparing for the world championships.

Success at the championships has been spread across the world. Turkey won the last event in 2016 and Algeria, Australia, France and Spain have been strong in the past, but Strydom said England and China are also nations to watch out for in Paris.

Five of the boys were part of the Westlake Distance Running Tour to Kenya and South Africa in July. ‘‘On return, the boys got the news about being selected for worlds. So, after two years of fundraising for their Africa trip, they are back fundraising for the trip to Paris,’’ Strydom said.

David Moore, Daniel Robertson and Murdoch McIntyre are among the Westlake Boys High School runners selected for ISF World Cross Country Championships.