2018 Wellington Secondary Schools XC Relay Karori Park Wed 9 May

Results Summary

Full Results (Excel Spreadsheet) 

This event is the first of two cross-country races for May and I suspect the most well supported. The race is organised by Don Dalgliesh of Wellington Scottish in collaboration with Ngaire Drake of College Sport Wellington.

Traditionally some schools from out of region come along. This is not surprising given the goal for serious school athletes at this time of the year is to get as much racing practice as possible before the National Secondary Schools XC Championship races in June. This year it will be in Taupo.

The Taupo event is expected to be extremely competitive with a lot of school pride on the line not to mention that kudos that come with individual titles.

The format for the Karori Park relays is for each of the six grades to head off in waves a couple of minutes apart. Each lap is 2km and there are six laps for the boys and 4 laps for the girls.

The start and finish are on the flat with the middle sections being a bit more challenging. That means there are some hilly bits. The whole thing is fast and furious and over in about an hour.

The fastest boys lap time today was produced by Liam Back from Wanganui Collegiate School. This follows up on his sizzling run at the Shaw Baton Relay last weekend at Battle Hill which augers well for Taupo.

Second fastest for the boy’s was Max Karamanolis from St Pat’s Kilbirnie with Patrick White from Wellington College picking up third fastest.

The fastest lap in the girl’s grade was posted by Kirstie Rae from Wellington East. She headed off both Lucy Hegan from Wellington Girls College, and Esther Kozyniak, from St Catherines College who were second and third fastest respectively.

The next secondary school is the scratch cross country races at Harcourt Park, Upper Hutt at the end of the month.

NB: Also in attendance as part of the Scots College staff support team was sub-4-minute miler Eric Speakman. Currently recovering from achilles tendon surgery, Eric is not yet open to club offers.