EDUCATION: WESTLAKE BOYS
Senior NZSSAA Cross Country Champs.
Junior NZSSAA Cross Country Champs.
Westlake leading the pack.
Year 9 NZSSAA Cross Country Champs Runners-Up.
Runaway success at the National Cross-Country Championship The Westlake Boys Cross Country team were never more eager or ready to compete at this year’s Auckland and New Zealand Cross Country Champs after the disappointment of event cancellations in 2020. Groundwork started during the April school holidays with a training camp for the respective age groups in Rotorua. The training they received provided the important foundations to help develop their fitness and running technique for the upcoming season. In May the distance runners competed at the North Harbour and West Auckland Cross Country Champs held at Moire Park in Massey. The team consisted of 62 students, 22 of which were racing for the first time, and they went on to celebrate a group success by winning all teams and individual categories. At the Auckland Champs, the team performed exceptionally well on a challenging course at St. Kentigern College where they took away gold in eight of the nine categories. This was an unprecedented result for Westlake cross country and this success certainly helped build their confidence leading into Nationals. The New Zealand Secondary Schools Cross Country Champs took place in Hawera in mid-July and proved to be the epitome of Cross Country with persistent rain on a very muddy course. The team’s performance did not disappoint with the Senior and Junior boys winning the National Six-Person team title and the Year 9 boys achieving runner-up in the same category. In addition to this the Senior and Year 9 Three-Person teams performed admirably and took away
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Issue 121 - July 2021 www.channelmag.co.nz
At the Auckland Champs, the team performed exceptionally well on a challenging course at St. Kentigern College where they took away gold in eight of the nine categories. a silver medal. All the boys raced with determination, particularly Cameron Maunder, Sam Berry, Toby Saxby, Alfie Steedman and Jamie Maunder who finished in the Top 12 for their respective races. To their delight, Sam and Cameron were later named in the New Zealand Secondary Schools Cross Country team. The team will now focus on their preparation for the upcoming Road Race season. Special thanks to the team’s sponsor, Nick Kearney from Schnauer & Co, and the many parents and helpers who have supported the students in this exhilarating sport.
