Iversen family shines as Southland Harriers season starts
Iversen family shines as Southland Harriers season starts
While most took it relatively easy, for some it was a test of current fitness and preparation for the Southland secondary school cross-country champs in 3 weeks."
By Lance Smith
Queens Park was at its autumn best Saturday as Southland Harriers opened its season with, as you may guess, a run.
The run was the traditional Queens Park 3-6-9 where runners choose their distance. Someone wanting a short or faster run may go for the 3km, anyone wanting to test endurance could choose 9km, those in the middle or can’t decide can take the 6k option. And for the littlies, there was the popular 1500m course, with many kids running with a parent.
While most took it relatively easy (a pleasant bit of exercise in the park), for some it was a test of current fitness and preparation for the Southland secondary school cross-country champs in 3 weeks.
Kimberley Iversen was one who gave her confidence a boost for the schools champs by being the fastest woman in the 9k (by 5 minutes) and 3rd overall. Fastest of all was Kimberley’s father Craig who ran 29.30, over 2 minutes better than on the same course a year ago.
Abby O’Boyle showed she will be a threat in the school champs with her first overall in the 3k, over a minute ahead of the first boy. Jorgia Tucker, just 3 seconds behind O’Boyle can also look forward to the school event with confidence.
James McLeay, perhaps Southland’s best distance runner, seems to have bad luck in pairs a year apart. He was recently denied competing at the Australian track championships thanks to Covid.
Exactly the same happened the previous year. A year ago stitch slowed him in the 3-6-9 run.
The same thing happened on Saturday. Even so he was fastest in the 6km, although he intended to run the 9.
Noted track coach and Active Southland Disabilities and Inclusion Advisor Chris Knight took himself out of his comfort zone to run with a group of kids aiming for the iAM games (a festival of sport for youngsters with disabilities in July).
“They enjoyed it,” Knight said. “Being able to do it with everyone else was great.”
Not surprising really, as inclusion (kids, mums, dads, children with special needs, walkers, joggers, serious athletes) is the basis of harrier running.
Queens Park on Saturday was a good example.