Runners take off to Kenya
Racing in Kenya may be a shock to the system for two young Kiwi runners used to New Zealand’s winter cross-country conditions.
Palmerston North’s Lucy McLean, 17, and Courtney Fitzgibbon, 17, of Waitārere Beach are in the New Zealand Secondary Schools Athletics Association team going to the ISF world schools cross-country championships in Nairobi, Kenya next month.
In New Zealand, cross-country is held during winter, with events often run on wet and muddy farm courses.
But the pair are expecting it to be a lot different when they race in Kenya, where it is likely to be hot. Also, Nairobi is 1800m above sea level.
Before going to Kenya, the team are heading to South Africa for nine days to acclimatise to the heat and altitude.
McLean said that even though it would be dry in Kenya, she expected the course to have some grass and hills.
The course they will run is 3.5km, less than the normal 5km races they do in New Zealand.
Neither of them know what to expect in Kenya, but Fitzgibbon said she was grateful to get the chance to go.
“It’s a rare opportunity to go to African countries, so I want to make the most of the experience.”
The pair, who run for Feilding Moa, were chosen after their performances in the New Zealand cross-country season last winter, including the national and North Island championships, where both felt they had performed well.
Fitzgibbon said it would be a cool experience to meet new people from different countries.
“They’re pretty quick over there.” McLean said they had a good team going, and they were all excited to be part of the event.
Both have been doing running training, but balancing it with their other sports. McLean is a top triathlete, plays hockey and competes in cycling.
Fitzgibbon does athletics in summer, and aquathon.
McLean is at Palmerston North Girls’ High School, and Fitzgibbon is at Waiopehu College in Levin. Both are head girls at their respective schools.
Fitzgibbon is going to the Oceania athletics championships in Fiji in June, and may be going to Townsville in Australia in August for aquathon.
McLean may also be going to Townsville for triathlon.
Before going to Kenya, the team are heading to South Africa for nine days to acclimatise to the heat and altitude.