The Manawatu Wanganui cross country championship were held at Timona Park, Feilding last Saturday. Ground conditions were firm however each 2.5km lap included two water hazards and four jumps for athletes to navigate. Results as follows are Feilding Moa members unless otherwise noted.
The Under-9’s did a shortened 1km course, with the race won overall by Kapiti Triclub visitor Mia Thomson in 5 minutes 11 seconds. Hazel Duker was next 5:41, followed by Molly Nicholson and Hawaiki Bentson. The Boys race was won by Lewis Ives 5:36 from Angus Cadzow (PNAHC)
The Under 11, 13 and 15’s all started together for a full 2.5km lap. Under 11 girls was won by Emily Sinclair from Awhina Bentson with Lucy Cadzow (PNAHC) in third place.
Under 13 girls was a clear win to Hayley Cornwall, 10:05 from her younger sister Tayla in 10:47 and Millie Evans 11:15 making it a clean sweep for Feilding Moa. The Under 15 girls was also a Moa clean sweep to Lucy Evans 10:30, Sarah Wasley 11:55 and Jemma Tolmie 12:01.
Under 11 boys saw first and third place to University of Canterbury Club visitors James and Michael Allison with Oliver Lean (Moa) taking third. Charlie Hook won the Under-13’s by over 150 metres in 9:54 from Jordan Botham and Jacob Lean.
The Under-15 boys saw close racing, with Cameron Walker securing the win in 9:04 from Fergus Doolan 9:28 and just 6 seconds back to John Bryant (Wanganui Harriers).
Under 18 women and Masters Women did two laps, 5km. Sarah Lambert (Wanganui Harriers) won in 19:35 from Stephanie Walker (20:28) and Bella Ives (22:21).
Masters Women was won by Dale McMillan (PNAHC), just 1 second in a dramatic finish with Aimee Perrett (Moa). A brief lapse of concentration from Perret saw her veer off course in the last 200 metres when she and McMillan were neck and neck. Third overall was Jo Speary in the W60-64 age grade followed by Di Matthews (Wanganui) in the W50-54 grade.
The Under-18 Men also did 5km, and right from the gun George Lambert (Wanganui) and Andre Le Pine-Day (Moa) established a gap on the rest of the field. With 800 metres to go they were running shoulder to shoulder. Lambert then upped the pace, hoping to take the sting out of the usual quick finish of Le Pine-Day. A small gap opened, but this was swiftly closed down and Le Pine-Day wenet on to win in 17:08 from Lambert in 17:10.
Men had four laps, 10km to contend with. After the first lap Nick Johnston held a narrow advantage over Harrison Porritt (North Harbour Bays), but soon put a good minute, finishing in 34:50. Porritt went on to win the Under-20 mens 7.5km title. Meanwhile Theo Purdy (PNAHC) held on for second in 37:19 from fast finishing Chris Lines (Wanganui), 37:29 who passed Josh Dunstan-Brown with just over a lap to go.
Masters Men was won by Josh Payne (Wanganui M35) 39:22 from AJ Cornwall 39:48 (M45) and Andrew Davenport (PNAHC M50) 40:11.
Manawatu Wanganui athletes can now look forward to the NZ Cross Country Champs in Wellington on 4th August and the local Road Championships in Palmerston North on 17 August.
