NZ 4km Cross Country Champs

Trentham Memorial Park
21 June 2003.
Full results here.
Photos are available at www.pixs.co.nz

The HVH star, running for her Chilton St James school, led virtually all the way in the 3km race, held a handy 30 metre lead after the first 1km loop, and had enough in reserve to hold off the fast-finishing Sarah McSweeney of
Morrinsville to win by five seconds. Mel's 11min 24sec time was a good one and would have won her the bronze medal in the higher junior girls grade, a race Mel will be eligible for in 2004.

The national title is the latest highlight in a season that has seen Mel win the Wellington secondary schools championship in her grade, and win the under 17 categories in the Dorne Cup and the Vosseler Shield.

Her result was the highlight for Hutt Valley athletes on a fine day at the secondary schools champs, held on a firm and fast, spectator-friendly course at Trentham Memorial Park. The course took in the flat of soccer pitches, the Hutt River stopbank, a horse paddock, hurdles and a dry creekbed and won positive comment from the athletes.

Another notable result was Abdulahi Gulad, running for Naenae College, who finished 17th in the senior boys' race. Abdulahi, who will still be eligible for the senior event next year, clocked 20:31 for the 6km course, just over a minute behind the winner, multiple national champion Matt Prosser, running for Wellington College.

A number of Valleys athletes also ran in the senior men's and women's national short course championships, which were held in conjunction with the secondary schools event. The best placed runners were Andrew McCarthy (34th) in the senior men and Anna Robertson (15th) in the senior women.

Competing on the day of the national secondary schools champs held special significance for Dave Ellis, who ran 35th in the senior men's race for Valleys, as it marked 25 years since he had won the junior title at the national secondary schools cross country champs in Timaru.

Valleys results below.
Full results here.