Southland Harriers eNewsletter

Southland Cross-Country Champs Te Anau

2025 was Te Anau's debut year for holding the Southland Cross-Country Champs and it was a huge success. The weather was outstanding, 54 runners competed and volunteers were everywhere helping to set up, marshal the course, time the event, record results and prepare the delicious afternoon tea.

The course was in prime condition, challenging every athlete who showed up to test themselves through the trees, and up and down the hills of Ivon Wilson Park. Thank you Shaun Cantwell for setting up the course, and putting on so many distance options for our athletes of all ages. Despite the slightly obtuse course directions no one got lost and every raved about the variety of terrain over the 3km and 1km loop.

Our under 10's and 12's took on the 1km loop, two times of course! With some close finishes, and some awesome feedback from a few unregistered runners. The great thing about the Southland Harriers sharing events between clubs is young runners from across the region get to line up with our seasoned Southland Athletics runners and test their skills.

Under 14's ran a loop of Shaun's 3km course, including some single track through the tree's. This section was a variation to secondary schools and something new for this age group.

Under 16's completed the 1km loop first, then it was back out on the course for the 3km loop. I wonder how our Under 10's felt lining up on the start line next to some of NZ top cross-country athletes like Hunter Flowers and Millie McFadzien. Thank you to the seasoned athletes who looked after the little ones over that first couple 100 meters.

For everyone else, it was a mix of either 2 or 3 laps of the 3km loop. The variety of club t-shirts was excellent to see, Queenstown, Fiordland, Gore, Invercargill, St.Pauls, Wyndham, and Winton what a spread of colours. Also thank you to all the non-club runners who competed, and out of region runners we love the extra competition on the course, and hope to see all of you in the future. Especially you Mr. Lucas Huia, it was great to see how far you have come, and I am sure Lewis Blay loved chasing you around the course.

There was a few very fresh looking 9km runners after the first lap, and the Harriers Chair did spot a few chatters, but things definitely ramped up on lap two and three. First across the line in our Women's 6km distance was Sienna Millar from Queenstown, thank you Sienna for joining us it was awesome to see you out on the course. Debbie Telfer's finish must be mentioned, she was the second female to complete the course in a lighting fast time. Watch out for these two Southland Athletes at Nationals in two weeks. If I was a betting type of person I would be putting some serious coin on both these phenomenal women for the win in their categories in Christchurch.

Despite the fresh looking finish I have no doubt it was a tough 3rd lap for Queenstown runner James Webber as he stepped up and completed the 9km distance, and finished first. After that it was the Fiordland flow with nothing but white singlets coming across the line, Dwight Grieve, Sagar Khemani, Richard Ford and Scott Underlay. Must be something in the water up there!!

Congratulations to everyone that lined up for our Southland Cross Country Champs, young and old. Lets do it all again at Teretonga on August 16th!!

Photos: https://www.southlandsnaps.nz/southlandcrosscountrychampionships/

Results: https://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=398408