AUCKLAND
Auckland Cross Country Championships, Barry Curtis Park East Tamaki – 9 July 2011
For Stephen Lett it was a case of third time lucky as he stormed to victory in the Auckland senior cross country championships at Barry Curtis Park on Saturday.
Let has finished second for the last two years, to Edwin Henshaw in 2009 and runner up to Alex Parlane last year.
But in far from perfect conditions he rose to the occasion winning the 12,000m event in 42m 41s. Jonathan Jackson was second in 43m 8s, heading in Cameron Graves who had opted for the senior race instead of his M19 grade.
After sharing the pace into the teeth of a bitterly cold wind with Parlane, Graves and Jackson, Lett applied the pressure on the fifth of the six laps of the Park and took control of the race.
Lett said he was very happy to win.
“My first Auckland title, so it’s good.
“It started off reasonably solid, Cam Graves ran today and he was pretty keen to beat me, so it set up a good rivalry. It was pretty windy, pretty muddy, a tough cross country course but I felt strong and felt I could tick my legs over quite fast,” said Lett.
Alice Mason showed a fine return to form to win the senior women’s title. Mason, who won in 2008, recorded 34m 15s for the 8000m. Robyn Young was second in 34m 29s, with former Pukekohe runner, now based in the States, Karen Lockyer third in 35m 15s.
Mason said it was a good lead up for the national championships.
“I haven’t raced for ages and now had three in the last three weeks, so it’s been quite good today over 8000m – every race gets a little bit better,” she said.
Declan Wilson, the national secondary schools champion, won the M19 title in an impressive 28m 10s for the 8000m, a minute 25 seconds clear of John Schreuder in second.
Wilson said it was a cautious start into the head wind.
“It got to a stage where it was a bit slow so I started to push it and I just went from there. It was a shame that Cam Graves didn’t race the juniors today, it would have been a lot quicker, but it will be good at the nationals having him there,” said Wilson.
Annika Pfitzinger had the W19 600m to herself winning by a minute in 25m 9s. Wilson’s brother Finn won the M16 title with the W16 going to Fern Brereton.
Robbie Johnston held on to win the master men by five seconds from fast finishing Matt O’Donoghue while Kristine Reid was the best of the master women.
Meanwhile at the Rat Race at Takapuna on 6 July Lydia O’Donnell won the 5km road race outright in 16m 50s, from Mike Lichtwark who ran 17m 11s.
WHANGAREI
Northland Cross Country Championships – 9 July 2011
Mark Turner won the senior 12km in 47m 12s, eight seconds ahead of Ian Calder. Delwyn Smith collected the senior women’s title, Imogen Hull the W19 6km winner in 27m 27s. Harry Linford the M16 6km winner in 23m 58s with Megan de Klerk winning the W16 4km in 18m 32s.
The previous week Hatea Harriers beat Whangarei in the Onerahi Relays, with Whangarei taking out the women’s relay ahead of Hatea.
HAMILTON
Waikato Bay of Plenty Cross Country Championships, Minogue Park Forest Lake, Hamilton – 9 July 2011
Steve Rees-Jones won the senior 12km in 42m 36s, from Angus Bell 42m 55s. Helen Rountree won the senior women’s 8km in 34m 17s. The M19 8km went to Tim Stewart in 29m 4s, the M16 6km to Jacob Priddey in 22m, the W16 4km to Megan Bethell in 18m, Jenna Hansen won the W19 while the fastest masters were Kent Hodgson 30m 48s for 8km and Katy Dawson with 25m 21s for the 6km distance.
HAWERA
Taranaki Cross Country Championships, Hawera A & P Showgrounds – 9 July 2011
Matt Baxter won the M19 8km by nearly three minutes in 28m 42s. Nathan Coombes collected the senior 12km title in 47m 30s, 14 seconds ahead of Scott van Dyk. Emily Roughan was the best in the W19 6km in 26m 1s, Janice McCallum won the W45 6km in 27m 59s, Nic Carver the senior women 8km in 40m 59s, Aneila Mellish the W16 4km in 19m 52s and Hamish Maxwell was the best of the master men winning the M40 8km in 32m 34s.
WELLINGTON
Wellington Cross Country Championships, Waikanae Park – 9 July 2011
Rochelle Sceats of Hastings, back from USA where she is on an athletic scholarship, won the senior women’s 8km in 35m 35s. Jana Stolting of USA was second in 35m 51s with Gabrielle O’Rourke, opting for the senior women, third in 35m 56s. Evan Cooper won the senior men 12km in 47m 20s, beating James Coubrough by 15 seconds with Rees Buck third in 47m 59s.
On a course hillier and wetter than used for last year’s national championships Ryan McAlister won the M19 8km in 32m 26s, 20 seconds ahead of Lachlan Davey. Grant McLean was the best of the master men covering the 8km in 33m 50s. Nicole Mitchell won the W19 6km in 28m 11s, Susannah Lynch took out the W16 4km in 18m 26s, Joshua Bann won the M16 6km in 24m 27s and Victoria Humphries the masters women 6km in 29m 16s from Sally Anderson 29m 28s.
NELSON
Tasman Cross Country Championships, Rabbit Island – 9 July 2011
Phil Costley was in a class of his own winning the senior 10km title in 33m 53s, nearly seven minutes ahead of Stuart Grange. Costley charged through the rain, surface water and lapped half the field over the 2km circuit. Claude Meffan won the M19 8km in 31m 13s, with Brittany Stewart taking out the W19 6km in 24m 45s. The M16 6km went to Josh Barry in 22m 16s while Claire Erasmus won the W16 4km in 16m 48s. Graham Taylor led in the masters 8km in 28m 54s with Paula Canning the best of the master women covering the 6km in 24m 51s.
CHRISTCHURCH
Canterbury Cross Country Championships, Halswell Quarry – 9 July 2011
Fiona Crombie, national cross country champion for the last two years, won the senior women’s 8km title in 30m 5s, just four seconds ahead of Nicki McFadzien. Matt Harris won the senior 12km in 41m 36s, from Dave King 42m 24s. Axel Reiser was the best of the masters over 8km in 28m 41s. Cameron Mills won the M19 8km in 29m 0s, Ben Musson took out the M16 6km in 21m 47s, Flora Brocherie the W19 6km 23m 53s, Rosa Flannagan the W16 4km in 15m 14s and Tracy Crossley won the W35 6km in 23m 36s.
DUNEDIN
Otago Cross Country Championships, Waikouaiti – 9 July 2011
Dougal Thorburn shaped up well for the national championships in two weeks time winning the senior 12km in 39m 55s. Callan Moody was second in 40m, 38 seconds ahead of Bevan Stevens with Peter Meffan fourth. Rachel Kingsford won the women’s 8km in 30m 31s, over a minute ahead of Kirsty Morris. Anthony Trainor led in the M19 in 29m 43s for the 8km, Allan Funnell was the best of the masters over the same distance in 29m 27s. Shauna Pali won the W19 6km in 23m 57s, Louisa Andrew headed the masters over 6km in 23m 40s while Samuel Bremer covered the 6km in 21m 2s for the M16 title. Sian English won the W16 4km in 16m 20s.
INVERCARGILL
Southland Cross Country Championships, Donovan Park – 9 July 2011
Shaun Burgess (St Pauls) convincingly won the senior men’s title in atrocious conditions over a slippery Donovan park course, turning the tables on Glen Ballam (Inv) who won their previous encounter a week earlier. Burgess applied the pressure early in the second of the five laps to eventually win by 2 minutes. The women’s race was won by Genevieve Bourke (Inv) who held out Hannah Adamson (Inv) by 11 seconds with Adamson taking the W16 title. Ricky Gutsell won the masters men’s championship from Glen MacIntosh and Chris Goodwill with Debbie Telfer first masters women and Jenny Adamson second. Run of the day however came from 14 year old Jack Beaumont of the Winton club who ran up a grade to finish just 5 seconds behind Gutsell. Liam Cullen (St P) won the B12 ahead of Yannis Warrender (Winton) with Lauren Brown (Winton, G14) best of the girls. Invercargill won both the men’s and women’s team titles.
LIFE MEMBERSHIPS ACCORDED
Electronic photo finish timing and results stalwart Craig Brown was elected to Life Membership of Athletics Canterbury at their AGM last week. Craig has been involved with the sport for 25 years and was President of the Centre 2004-07. He is one of only three AIMS course measurers in New Zealand able to certify courses for International use. He currently chairs the Centre finance committee. Craig was a Council member of Athletics New Zealand representing Canterbury.
Former top sprint hurdler Ross Pownall was elected to Life Membership of Athletics Auckland at their AGM on 23 June. Ross was the national 110m hurdles champion for 12 years in a row from 1967, (120 yards 1967-69, 110 metres 1970-78). He also won the national decathlon title in 1968, the 220 yards hurdles title in 1967 and is the only holder of a national 200m hurdles title won in 1970 before it was discontinued. Ross was involved with the change to the constitution that established a Board of Directors to govern the sport in Auckland. He was the inaugural chairman of the Board and the driving force behind raising the funds to establish an office for Athletics Auckland at Mt Smart Stadium and he later raised the funds for the gymnasium for athletics at the Stadium. He currently chairs the Athletics Auckland Centennial Trust. Ross was a former Board member of Athletics New Zealand.
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