Impressive efforts at cross-country champs
Last week we covered the results from the New Zealand secondary schools cross-country championships and the outstanding result by Feilding High School’s Tessa Webb in winning the senior girls’ title.
I am aware that in recent weeks Manawatu primary and intermediate schools have held their cross-country championships and I am very thankful for the help I have received in tracking down the results of these events.
Although there is no national championships for these aged athletes, I feel it is important their successes are recognised.
The primary schools event was held on a very muddy course on a farm on Kahuterawa Road near Linton last week.
Kearney Matenga from Glen Oroua School won the year 5 girls race ahead of Hayley Cornwall from Tiritea School and College Street Normal School’s Lucy Mclean.
Victory in the year 5 boys race went to Quinn Johnson from Riverdale School, with Cooper Furnell (College Street) second and Nicolas Verry (Aokautere School) third.
Kylah Gunn representing Whakarongo School was an impressive winner of the year 6 girls race, finishing well clear of Kaitlyn Mckenzie (Colyton School) and Amber Trow (College Street).
The year 6 boys race was won by George Bagley from Hokowhitu School, with Russell Street School’s Jonty Kells second and Alex Beard from Colyton third.
The thing that stood for me looking at these results is the spread of schools represented by these placegetters. The Intermediate schools event was at Ashhurst and looking through the results I see a lot of familiar names.
The year 7 girls title went to Colgate Games 800m gold medallist Kimberley Walsh from St Peter’s College, with another Colgate Games medallist in Monique Gorrie (Kairanga School) second and prominent Moa harrier Bella Ives (Ross Intermediate School) third.
In the year 8 boys there was a finishing sprint by Manawatu soccer and cricket representative Jaiden Meyer (Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School), which was enough to claim victory from Thomas Bell (Ross Intermediate) and Alex King (PNINS).
Multiple Colgate Games title holder Ashleigh Gunn (Whakarongo) was too strong for the year 8 girls field, coming in well clear of second-placed Aria Braeburn (Pahiatua School) and Genevieve Bell (PNINS).
Aden Porritt (PNINS) won the year 8 boys event, heading off second-placed Alex Jenkins (Newbury School) and Nelson Doolan (PNINS).
It would not surprise me to see some of these athletes duplicating Webb’s achievements and winning a national schools title.
There was a large number of athletes competing in the Wellington marathon last Sunday.
Aden Porritt was fifth in the 5km run, with Bradyn Popow coming in at the head of the 5km walk field.
Second placings seem to be following Chris Sanson, as he once again had to settle for this in the half marathon.
On Saturday Palmerston North Athletics members joined the Manawatu Striders for their event at the Awapuni Racecourse.
After walking a lap of the course, I got a good understanding of the racing term heavy, with the concluding section on the racecourse training track proving to be particularly soft and wet.
It was a good challenge for the 36 runners and walkers that competed.
David Lovelock came in well clear of the field, clocking 9min 20sec for the 2.7km lap, a minute ahead of masters athlete Andrew Davenport, who was followed home by Andre Le Pine-day, AJ Marquet and Lance Gray.
Ashleigh Gunn was the first female, clocking 11min 15sec and she was followed home by Bradyn Popow, with Sian Cass and Kylah Gunn next to finish.
It was a well-run event, which is sure to give the Striders a lot of confidence in their ability to host the Manawatu-wanganui championships in three weeks’ time.
Next week the Striders are joining with Feilding Moa for a run at Ashhurst, while Palmerston North Athletic has some members travelling to Taupo for the North Island championships have resulted .
A development on the venue for this year’s New Zealand secondary schools athletics championships following the cancellation of the Mount Smart Stadium booking so a Coldplay concert could be held there.
I had heard rumours the championships were going to Hamilton, but this does not appear to be correct.
After a meeting with the Auckland facilities management, they are to offer the group that has the prior booking of Waitakere Trusts Stadium an alternative venue, which, if accepted, would allow the athletics championships to be held there.
The decision is due early this week.
What’s on.
July 2: North Island crosscountry, Taupo.
July 9: Manawatu Striders cross-country (handicap), Massey University.
July 16: AMW cross-country, Awapuni.
July 23: Halcombe road interclub relays.
July 31:Winter track and field, Palmerston North.