Wellington Athletes Perform at New Zealand Cross Country
Toby Gualter picked up his 6th National medal in the last 12 months with his strong and determined run in North Hagley Park at the national Cross Country Championships. The event staged on the golf course was very technical with its tight turning corners and damp soggy underfoot in parts. The course which included hazards runs through sand traps [bunkers] overall was a very testing course.
The Senior Men highlight was from Toby Gualter who had just returned from the World University Games in Germany that week where he represented NZL in 10km and 5km final. The tough Men’s race had a repeat one -two of last year’s Nationals in Mission Estate Napier with Gualter claiming silver again behind Connor Melton [CAN] and ahead of Olly Chignell [OTG]. Toby made push for victory midway through final 2km lap but travel fatigue from Germany may have taken its toll as Melton reapplied the pressure to win. The senior men’s team was 2nd behind Canterbury. Wellington’s top Senior women finisher was Kumiko Otani in 8th place
It was in the age grade divisions where Wellington teams and individual were prominent Men’s 20 team placed 2nd in teams race with Max Doherty first home in 9th place.
In Masters men 50-65 Wellington took 1st in the team race lead home by Graeme Morrison. In Master women’s 50+ excellent runs by Wellington pair of Katie Jenkins 2nd and Bridget Douglas 3rd saw the team win over Canterbury with Vick Humphries and Jan Sheppard the supporting team members.
Individual silver medals went to Alex MacBeth 2nd MU18 over 6 km in one of the closest finishes of the day only losing by 2 secs and recording the same time as the 3rd placed athlete. Mia Thomson also claimed silver in the WU16 with Lucy Mabin 4th and the team placing 2nd while Jacob Williams came in 2nd in Under 16 Men with their boys team placing 2nd too. In the Under 14 Girls Lucie Thomson of Kapiti won the race with a fine performance.
Wellington Medallists
2nd Senior Men’s Toby Gualter
2nd Men U18 Ale MacBeth
2nd Women U16 Mia Thomson
2nd Men U16 Jacob Williams
1st Under 14 Girls Lucie Thomson
2nd Katie Jenkins & 3rd Bridget Douglas Masters Women’s 50+
3rd Todd Krieble Master Men 65+
2nd Senior Men’s Teams
2nd Men’s 16 Teams
2nd Women’s 16 Teams
3rd Men’s U20 Teams
2nd Master Men’s 50-64 Teams
1st Master Women’s 50-64 Teams
3rd Masters Mens 65+ Teams
In Twilight Relays for the New Zealand Club Cross Country Mixed Relay Championships where all relays were run over 4 laps of 2km Olympic Harrier Athletic won the 50+ Mixed team with Butch Borlase, Jan Sheppard, Darren Gordon, Katie Jenkins in a time of 30:47. Wellington Harriers were 3rd in the mixed 35 -49 grade. Wellington Harrier Athletic In the Mixed Relay were third in a time of 25:08, and 3rd in the Mixed Senior Relay 25:20 as were their Under 18 Mixed. Mixed Under 20 race hada Olympic Harrier and Athletic placed 2nd in 26:25 to a strong Queenstown team ,
Full Summary of Results
Individual Results Here
Centre team Results Here
Mixed Relay Results Here
