Athletics New Zealand – News – Buscomb and Moody take first NZ Cross Country titles

Callan Moody took his first New Zealand title in the men's race at the New Zealand Cross Country Championships in Christchurch today.

The Canterbury 26 year old ran near the front of a big leading bunch for four of the six laps on the 12,000m race, taking the outright lead part way through the fifth lap.

"I had stomach cramps early in the race but recovered and was feeling good so pushed a bit and found myself in the lead earlier than I expected", said Moody.

He then put in another move on the uphill section of the last lap to increase his lead and secure a first New Zealand title.

"I have won some gold and silver medals previously, but this was my first championship title, so I'm very pleased with my run today", Moody added.

A fast finishing Jonno Jackson (Auckland) grabbed second place ahead of Cantabrian Daniel Balchin.

Auckland won the men's team title, getting their best six runners all inside the top 17, taking the title from Canterbury, who, although they took three of the top four positions, could not get their remaining three runners high enough.

Camille Buscomb from Waikato BOP fought off a strong challenge by Rebecca Kingsford (Canterbury) and Annie Keown (Auckland) to take out her first Cross Country title to go with the 2013 Road Champs and two 3000m titles.

The three athletes ran together for the first 6km of the 8km race, before first Keown and then Kingsford were dropped, giving Buscomb, who narrowly missed selection for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 5000m, the title.

"Annie and Rebecca ran really well and I had to dig deep to stay in front of them", said the delighted 24 year old from Cambridge.

Although Waikato BOP had three in the top five in the race, they did not have a fourth runner, and the team title went to Wellington.

Joshua Baan from Otago caused an upset in the Junior Men's 8km race, outsprinting favourite Geordie Beamish from Wanganui to take the title adding to his junior 5000 track championships win. Jacob Priddey from Waikato BOP finished third.

Rosa Flanagan and Gabrielle Gray made it a quinella for Canterbury in the junior women's 6km. Flanagan was a clear winner, just two weeks after finishing seventh in the world junior 3000 steeplechase championships, the USA, while Audrey Gregan from Auckland finished third.

Cameron Avery (Canterbury) was winner of the Youth Men's 6km from teammate Matthew Prest and Harry Ewing (Waikato BOP).

Ari Graham was another Canterbury hometown winner in the Youth Women's 4km from Kelsey Forman (Wellington) and Harriet Bush (Canterbury).

Masters races were won by Mark Bailey and Sally Gibbs.

Results
Athletics New Zealand Cross-country Champs
9 August 2014
Halswell Quarry, Christchurch

Men Senior 12km
1 Callan Moody Canterbury 38:49.47, 2 Jonathan Jackson Auckland 39:03.07, 3 Daniel Balchin Canterbury 39:10.71.
Women Senior 8km
1 Camille Buscomb Waikato Bay 29:17.61, 2 Rachel Kingsford Canterbury 29:30.34, 3 Annie Keown Auckland 29:49.59.
Men Under 20 8km
1 Joshua Baan Otago 26:45.29, 2 Geordie Beamish Manawatu/Wanganui 26:46.11, 3 Jacob PriddeyvWaikato Bay 26:53.21.
Women Under 20 6km
1 Rosa Flanagan Canterbury 20:34.64, 2 Gabrielle Gray Canterbury 22:47.67, 3 Audrey Gregan Auckland 23:00.15.
Men Under 18 6km
1 Cameron Avery Canterbury 19:49.19, 2 Matthew Prest Canterbury 19:54.80, 3 Harry Ewing Waikato Bay 19:59.01.
Women Under 18 4km
1 Ari Graham Canterbury 15:11.06, 2 Kelsey Forman Wellington 15:16.37, 3 Harriet Bush Canterbury 15:22.87.
Men 35+ 8km
1 Mark Bailey Canterbury 27:15.23, 2 David Fitch Canterbury 28:33.07, 3 Dave Parsons Wellington 28:34.05.
Women 35+ 6km
1 Sally Gibbs Waikato BoP 23:11.21, 2 Louisa Andrew Otago 23:27.51, 3 Gabrielle O'Rourke Wellington 23:36.43.
Boys Under 15 3km
1 Isaiah Priddey Hamilton 10:07.26, 2 Sam Montgomerie Hamilton 10:11.47, 3 Nick Moulai Papanui TocH 10:17.44.
Girls Under 15 3km
1 Hannah O'Connor Egmont 11:13.69, 2 Liliana Braun Port Hills 11:18.84, 3 Akeira Worthington University Canterbury 11:32.30.
Boys Under 13 2km
1 Chanel Muir Christchurch 7:06.47, 2 Oscar Fossey Phoenix 7:17.28, 3 Laurence Pithie Christchurch 7:18.60.
Girls Under 13 2km
1 Eloise Beattie Nelson 7:31.00, 2 Lucy Kokich Christchurch 7:38.68, 3 Rosa Blake Phoenix 7:42.84.

 

Athletics New Zealand – News

 

 

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