After weeks of battling the elements, runners and walkers competing in Saturday's Wellington Road Championships were treaded to reasonably pleasant weather conditions. The Heretaunga course was modified this year with racing being based on a standard 2km loop - by consensus a change for the good.
WHAC had a large (and successful) turnout with two walkers and over forty runners participating. Alison Samson got the day off to a good start with a win the Junior Women's Walk. Five Wellington Harrier runners subsequently took out provincial road running titles: Vickie Humphries - Women 35 and over; Alice Feslier-Holmes - Women 19 and under; Tim Cornish - Men 19 and under; Nathan Barrett - Men 16 and under; and Noah Billingsley - Boys 11 and under. These were backed up by seconds to Gabrielle O'Rourke - Open women, Nick Lucie-Smith - Boys 13 and under, and George Leach - Boys 9 and under; while new-comer David Carrigan ran a splendid third in the Men 40 and over.
Looking ahead to the Road Relays, it was great to see the return of Michelle Hopkins running a slick 5km, but the presence of just three WHAC runners in both senior men's and women's races must be a concern. By contrast, we had five of the first dozen finishers in the masters men's race and no less than eight try-hards scattered through the Mens 50 and over field. With injuries (and general decrepitness) restricting the selection options, Mike Winsborough and Francis Campkin probably cemented their relay team places with solid runs in this race.
This week's newsletter focusses on one of the club's rising stars. Hayley Green has returned from injury to have a superb cross country season, comfortably winning the Wellington, North Island and New Zealand titles.
Hayley is about to depart New Zealand for a wonderful study/running opportunity in the United States and after Saturday's pack run, club members said farewell to Hayley over a very well stocked afternoon tea. In between savouries, chocolate cake and speeches, we managed to put together this brief career profile.
Hayley will be going to Stony Brook University in Long Island, New York where she will be continuing the BSc (started last year at Victoria University) in Biology and Psychology. Her running goal is to eventually represent New Zealand as a senior at a World Championship.
Hayley's rated her career highlight to date as "winning the W19 NZ cross country champs, with Nathan and Nick winning their races at the same meet". Not surprisingly, her lowlight was "the injury which prevented me racing the 2007/08 track season". I asked Hayley for her fondest memories of Wellington Harriers. She rated the van decorating during the 2007 Timaru Road Relay trip and the wonderful spirit of the team that won the 2005 Takahe to Akaroa race.
Hayley's advice to a twelve year old runner about to hit college - "Have fun. Enjoy the cross country races and the friends you will make at harriers". Finally, when asked about her favourite run, Hayley had no hesitation in nominating the run along the ridgeline in Karori between Makara Peak and Johnson's Hill.
Thanks for your time Hayley and the best of good luck in the land of opportunity.
Tony.
Once again, the capital's harriers defied the elements (and good sense), this time kicking off the relay programme with the annual WHAC hosted Bays' Relay. The traditional course (scientifically plotted to maximise exposure to the elements) was at its most challenging with an icy southerly leaving officials, spectators, and even runners, chilled to the bone! However, Andrew McNeill's meticulous planning ensured that the event ran smoothly, and by the end everybody was looking forward to next year's event with confident predictions of a howling northerly.
Scottish Harriers entered an incredible 21 teams and were rewarded with victories in five of the six race divisions. Thanks also to the Olympic Harriers (12 teams) and Hutt Valley Harriers (10 teams) for their support.
WHAC representation was light with many club members being involved as transition marshalls. The Women's team were second with Hayley Green and Gabrielle O'Rourke surviving the south coast sand-blasting and recording fastest times on the first two laps. The Junior Women's team were third, Barbara Roy getting them off to a great start with the fastest lap 1 time. The Junior Men did one better coming second with Nathan Barrett continuing his great recent form with fastest time on lap 3. WHAC highlight of the day was undoubtedly the Vet Men's team of Jonathan Hales, David Carrigan, Liam Healey, Paul Hewittson and Ian McFarlane holding out a determined Olympic team by over two minutes. With each of the team running fastest time for their lap, competition for the relay team is really hotting up.
Tony.
All eyes were on Waikanae Park for Saturday's highlight of the 2008
cross-country season - the New Zealand Championships. The Kapiti Coast has
recently been suffering rain of arc-like proportions, but (true to its
reputation) the course provided amazingly good footing.
The results proved to be an absolute triumph for the WHAC junior
members with three titles and numerous placings. The finish of the day came
in the Boys 14 race where the first four were separated by just two
seconds with our own Nick Lucie-Smith taking the gold and Kieron McDonald
the bronze. The result was the same in the Women 19 race with Hayley
Green scoring a comprehensive victory and Barbara Roy taking third, with
Penny Roy 20th. Yet another gold, this time to Nathan Barrett in the Men
16 race; with clubmates Nicholas Bingham (5th), Michael Krause (6th),
James Palmer (16th), Finn Roy (21st), Stuart Hancock (30th) and Julian
Baker (31st) putting up a huge effort for the club! Other top junior
runs came from Tyler White (18th in the Girls 12) and Anna Roche (9th in
the Women 16). Congratulations to the junior club members and their
dedicated coaches.
WHAC runners were less prominent in the senior races, although Vickie
Humphries kept the flag flying with a victory in the MW40-44 age group.
Daniel Nixon had a fine run for 14th in the Senior Men, with Jason
Cressingham taking 28th in the same race. In the Masters Men race, Dean
Patten was 14th in the 40-44 age group, while Paul Forster was 4th and
Liam Healey 8th in the 45-49 division. And congratulations to the Mason
family with Alice taking silver in the Senior Women and Jenny gold in her
division of the Masters Women.
Tony.