FINALLY, after a two-month delay due to COVID, the 123rd NSW Cross Country Championships were held on October 10 and 11 at West Dapto.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Entries for the event, from under 11 to 80+ masters, attracted 800 competitors, as it proved hugely popular after a long hiatus from competition.
However, there was just a handful of athletes from Nowra who competed as the focus has now shifted for most, to the current track season.
Those that did compete, performed extremely well.
Erin Smart took herself well out of her comfort zone, completing the 10km course with great control and determination.
Erin finished 12th overall and was second across the line for athletes aged 35-39 years, clocking 47.31.
However, the 36-year-old Marnie Ponton from Bankstown, who was the fastest 35+ runner, actually competed under the open's section, where she placed second in that category in a quick time of 36.20 - finishing in front of 19-year-old Australian middle-distance runner Keely Small.
This meant Nowra's Erin Smart took gold in the 35-39 years category.
Matt Lewis competed in the open's 10km race and finished 23rd, crossing in 35.47.
The 28-year-old was 11th in the under 30s category.
Annette Sampson proudly brought home a bronze medal after finishing in third place in the 55-59 years 6km event - finishing in 33.01 minutes.
Workhorse Peter Dooley pushed hard for fourth in the 60-64 years event, clocking 34.24.
Peter wasn't far off bronze medal placegetter, as Peter Hutton from Sutherland crossed in 34:05.
In the junior races, Cameron Baxter finished ninth in the under 12s 3km event, clocking 11.36 while Emily McLaren was 10th in the under 13s event, crossing in 11.55.
In the under 14s race, Nowra had three competitors; Tom Duncan was 10th in 10.32, Oliver Baxter was 21st in 11.31 and Hamish McLaren was 22nd in 11.36.
In the under 15s 4km race, Harrison Baxter clocked 14.21 for ninth place and in the under 17s event, Jasper Arnold clocked 23.33 over 6kms for 13th place.
It was a huge effort from all Nowra athletes.
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.
