By Mr P Dominikovich | Posted: Tuesday June 20, 2023
A team of 30 selected athletes travelled to Palmerston North for the National Championships.
On Saturday the 17th June the races were held. The school achieved its goal of placing in the top 10 in each 6 person race, which only Westlake Boys’, New Plymouth Boys’, Tauranga Boys’ and Wellington Boys also managed to achieve.
In the Year 9 3000m race Isacc Williamson came through the field to be our first home in 64th place in 12.08. George Talbot (70th), Hunter Stevenson (75th) Louis O’Sullivan (81st), Isaac Boorer-Lilley (93rd), Myles Wheeler (113th) and Will Bailey (126th) combined for 12th in the 3 person and our best result of 6th in New Zealand for the 6 person teams race.
The under 16 4000m saw Hamish Tilsley our first home in 16.08. Hamish was 90th with Jack Houstoun (120th), Wiremu Robertson (124th), Tristan Harding (132nd), Riley Horstmann (133rd), Murphy Porter (135th), Caleb Turner (136th) and Reuben McKeown (139th) in this two lap race. The 3 person team was 16th and the 6 person placing was 8th.
Seniors had to run 3 laps of what was by now a muddy and slippery course. Tom Allan ran the 6000m in 21.15 for 43rd place. Baxter Mason (74th), Josh Young (77th), Malachy Cleland (89th), Payo O’Sullivan (109th), Daniel Poulter (139th), Max Finlayson (141st), Mac Brown (161st), Michael Tilsley (165th), Ben Allan (166th), Blake Parker (173rd), Lewis Taylor (175th) and Luc Todd (179th) combined to see our 3 person finish 11th and our 6 person 9th overall.
Sunday the 18th was the Provincial 4 x 2000m Relays which are great fun, but particularly challenging for the smaller regions as we don't often have other schools to combine with. George, Isaac Williamson, Louis and Hunter placed 9th in the Year 9 race. Jack, Riley, Tristan and Wiremu were 13th in the under 16 Event and Blake, Baxter, Josh and Payo placed 17th in the Senior race with our B team (Michael, Ben, Mac, Luc) in 23rd.
While all the boys were racing there was also the mixed Regional Races which meant for much excitement and confusion. Tom ran first in the Senior race and was our fastest on the day clocking 7.04. His team finished in an impressive 4th. Max and Daniel were in the Aoraki B team that placed 11th.
The highlight of the Relays was Hamish in the under 16 mixed relay. Runners from Ashburton College, Craighead, Roncalli and TBHS combined for 3rd place and possibly the first ever Relay medal for a small region.
