Otago chances in crosscountry
A STRONG contingent of Otago runners will contest the national crosscountry championships this weekend.
The region has good chances in both the senior men’s and women’s races, to be held on a 10km track in Wellington tomorrow.
At the forefront of a handy group of men is Daniel Balchin, who finished first at the Otago championships two weeks ago.
The 28yearold — who is representing Canterbury, although he has recently returned to Otago and is now living in Alexandra — has claimed silver the past two years and is aiming to go one better.
Three of his closest challengers in the Otago race will also be running in Wellington.
Joshua Baan claimed the Otago title — the highest placed Otagoregistered athlete — while Jacob Priddey and Jared Monk are both capable of posting fast times.
Indeed,
Baan and Priddey are both former agegroup national champions.
Oli Chignell may pose Balchin’s biggest threat, however.
The 20yearold did not run at the Otago event, but enters in good form, following a fourth consecutive Edmond Cup victory.
He claimed the men’s 20 title last year and the 18yearold title in 2015.
This is his first year out of agegrade running and he has already had success as a senior.
He won the 5000m title at the national track and field championships earlier this year.
Rounding out the Otago group is Sam Bremer, one of the country’s top middle distance runners.
The 23yearold has excelled on the track in recent years, although he missed most of last season with shin splints.
He has returned this winter and finished second at the Edmond Cup — although nearly a minute behind Chignell.
Among the contenders from other regions will be North Island champion Peter Wheeler, Nick Horspool, Jono Jackson, Cameron Graves, Isaac Murphy, Ieuan van der Peet and Sean Eustace.
In the women’s race Rebekah Greene is one of the favourites after dominating the South Island scene this winter.
The 24yearold has made an impressive return to running after heart surgery in February.
She claimed the South Island title earlier in the year and two weeks ago won the Otago title by nearly six minutes.
Sophie Smith — who finished third at the Otago championships — will join Greene in the women’s field.
Former Otago runner Shauna Pali — now representing Auckland — will also compete.