Tens for Southland cross-country runners

Encouraging results for Southland cross-country runners at New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships.

Abby O’Boyle, Siena Mackley, and Max McGregor competing at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Crosscountry Championships.

By Lance Smith

Ten was the magic number at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Cross-country Champs Christchurch over the weekend.

The first ten in the year 9, junior girls and junior boys were recognised with a certificate of achievement.

In the senior races ten was even more significant. The first ten again were awarded a certificate, named in the secondary schools paper team that gave travel subsidies to local and international competitions, and the big one, automatic selection to the New Zealand schools’ team to the Australian all schools cross-country champs in Melbourne. Southland athletes featured in all.

Abby O’Boyle (Verdon) and Max McGregor (Maruawai College Gore) finished in the top ten of their races – Abby 5th in the JG 3000m and Max 6th over the 4000m JB race.

In the senior races Siena Mackley (WHS) scored a top 10 certificate, finishing 4th and missing a medal by less than two seconds but made the paper team and selection to Australia while James McLeay (SBHS) in finishing 9th secured his certificate, paper team selection and place in the New Zealand team for Melbourne.

James however withdrew from the Australian trip as it clashed with the World U20 Track & Field Championships in Peru where he has been chosen for the 1500m.

He is already a New Zealand schools crosscountry rep, having recently returned home from Kenya and the world schools champs.

The champion Southland Year 9 mixed team at the New Zealand Secondary School Cross-country Championships.

Then to Sunday’s relays – 4 x 2km with teams representing their province rather than schools. The Southland year 9 mixed team (two girls, 2 boys) triumphed to take the gold medal behind consistent performances from Flynn Weber (WHS), Ianthe-MacMillan-Armstrong (Fiordland), Addison McGarry (Maruawai) and Hunter Flowers (SBHS) who had one of the fastest laps of all year 9 and junior boys.

The SG team of Abby O’Boyle, Millie McFadzien, Jorgia Tucker and Siena Mackley finished a creditable 6th with Abby promoted from the junior grade running the fastest lap of the team, in fact within seconds of the silver and bronze medallists from the senior race the day before and less tan 20 seconds off senior girls winner Boh Ritchie.