Southland runners heat up Otago schools champs
Southlanders headed to the Otago schools champs to get a quality hit out before the NZ Champs next week as the Southland event was rained out and deferred to later this month.
By Lance Smith
Conditions at Kaikorai Valley College Dunedin for the Otago schools crosscountry champs were crisp, cold and frosty, but a group of Southland runners made the tip north and proceeded to heat up the competition.
Otago Secondary Schools generously allowed their southern neighbours to take part.
The Southlanders were there to get a quality hit out before the NZ Champs next week as the Southland event was rained out and deferred to later this month.
The first race, the U14 and 15 girls was a convincing to Abby O’Boyle. The Verdon College student decided not to go as legs were paying the price of 6 games of basketball and netball (in Dunedin) the previous day.
But Mum convinced her otherwise.
Just as well.
She followed suggested tactics to the letter. content to sit with the leaders then unleash a winning burst over the final few hundred metres. Keira Redden of WHS was not far behind in third U14, and Jorgia Tucker
(SGHS) another 40 seconds back to be first U15 girl.
The next race was also a Southland triumph as Max McGregor (St Peters Gore) took first and Hudson Roy (Menzies) second in the U14 boys. Max’s dominating win showed he will be a threat in the national champs next week, having won the Otago and South Island schools crosscountry in most convincing fashion.
Next grade up gave Southland another first, with James Weber WHS second over the line behind an U16 runner but winning the U15 grade.
The senior grades also had a Southland presence. SG had Siena Mackley (WHS), Kennedy Taylor (SGHS) and Kimberley Iversen (JC) third, fourth and fifth behind Catherine Lund and Zara Geddes, one and two at the NZ schools champs last year. The senior boys also packed well to have James McLeay (SBHS, Jude Deaker
(WHS) and Lucas Huia (JHC) taking second, third and fourth spots.
Unfortunately, Lews Blay (JHC) was entered in the wrong grade. His 5th in the U15 grade was probably worth a place in the U14 race. Running the correct grade could have given Southland an U14 trifecta along with Max and Hudson.