Coach’s Comment: Where was the mass of Southland participants?
"A few more Southlanders in Taupo might have meant some Southland club relay teams, or a chance in the teams’ results from the individual races."
Lance Smith is an experienced Southland athletics coach. He reflects on the NZ cross-country champs held in Taupo last weekend and asks why more runners don’t want to test themselves on the national stage.
There is no doubt whatsoever that Southland competitors at the NZ crosscountry champs last weekend acquitted themselves well.
Very well indeed, with two medals, 6 top ten placings, a course record from a team of seven.
Plus a second in the composite relay (and third over the line) the following day from the young team of James McLeay, Kennedy Taylor and Ben Scott (St Pauls) and Siena Mackley (Queenstown).
But there is a downside. Running is a mass-participation sport. Where was the mass of Southland participants? Do only likely medal winners or top finishers compete in national events go? Or are championships for the thrill of competing, the camaraderie of being with like-minded people and the challenge of pushing your own limits?
OK, cost is a factor, and Taupo is probably as costly as it gets. But not all NZ championships are in Taupo.
The relays day after the championship races are a club competition. Southland did not have four runners from a single club, hence the combined team being in the composite non-championship (therefore no medals) grade.
A few more Southlanders in Taupo might have meant some Southland club relay teams, or a chance in the teams’ results from the individual races.
As well as an individual competition, the championships also have a teams category – the top four finishers from a centre are combined for team placings.
Southland did not have four runners in any grade, so had no chance of a teams prize.
The attraction of teams placings is that a runner may be 20 or 30 th but their placing may be crucial for the team – and still be in the running for a medal.
However, a big positive was the spread of coaching support- seven athletes, 5 coaches.
Millie McFadzien has Hannah Miller to help guide her, Max McGregor Ricky Gutsell, James McLeay and Kennedy Taylor Lance Smith, Siena Mackley Neville Britton, Ben Scott his father and Debbie Telfer self-coached.
The expertise is there. Be good to see more runner there too.