Running for 90 years
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This page was last edited on Saturday, 21 June 2008
This is a major event on the Ocker running calendar as it combines the AA XC Champs and the School Sport Australia events. In NZ terms, that is like programming the Colgate, Secondary and Athletics NZ XC grade races into a one day event. Overall about 28 Kiwis were entered for various races, the biggest contingent being from St Pat’s College Silverstream, who fundraised all year to partake in the Australian experience.
Melissa Moon was pipped for first place by one second in the women's 8k by Susan Michelsson (Vic). Melissa ran 28:28. Tim Hodge was 6th in the M18/19 (26:47/8k) and 11th in the M20, while Ben Ashkettle, a Scottish runner living in Melbourne, was 8th in the M16/17 grade (19:47/ 6k). Results
Photos from Rowan Greig
Tim Hodge on lap 1 of the M20 race with Andrew Haigh (Wesley, Auckland) tucked in behind. Andrew finished 4th with Tim taking out 11th place.
Melissa Moon setting the pace on lap 1 of the Senior Women’s 8k race. Melissa essentially led throughout but in the end had to settle for 2nd after failing to shake off fast finishing Victorian Susan Michelsson
#175 (who is aiming to qualify for the World Half Marathon Champs and beyond that the 10,000m
in the 2006 Commonwealth Games).
Melbourne-based Scottish member Ben Ashkettle, who finished 8th in the 16/17 Boys Race and was part of the winning Victorian Team. Also in the race was Hugo Beamish (Wanganui Collegiate) who finished in 5th place with a bevy of St Pat’s College runners further back in the field.
More photos of the XC Races plus the Australian Road Walking Champs held at Santos Stadium on the Sunday
are here.