All previous scales relating to extreme National Cross Country events were obliterated as damaging winds, heavy rain and a course that was flooded in parts put our juniors through the toughest test imaginable at Launceston and they all showed tremendous courage.

U15 Girls 4k Laura Bray 46th 19.36
U17 Girls 4k Lara Wannenburgh 20th 17.43
U17 Boys 6k Sonny Adam 19th 22.56
U20 Girls 6k Daisy Carter 38th 30.00
U11 Boys Elliot Stannard 6th, Louis Claridge 12th

Elliott Stannard has once again picked up a Silver Teams Medal for Queensland based on his 6th place.

In the Masters 4k Brian Carter 22nd overall and 6th in the Men’s 55 plus division with 18:31 while Dick Dunstan was 44th overall and first and only competitor in the Men’s 75 plus division with 40:27.

On the final day for the Mixed 4 x 2k Relays the weather was wet early but not quite as bad as yesterday but the course was still the muddiest that anyone is ever likely to experience and the wind was still up and about.

Sonny Adam made a roaring start in the Under 18 race sitting in the top five until a couple of stumbles 400m from the finish but still battled through and was ably supported by Laura Bray, Lara Wannenburgh and ten year old draftee Louis Claridge leading the team to do well for 13th place in 34.11.

In the Masters 40 plus event the sun actually came out with the team of Jason Claridge, Marike Wannenburgh, John Purcell and Ildiko Keogh finishing sixth in 49.11 and having the great honour of closing out the meet.

Athletics Australia’s initiative to supersize the event this year with juniors, Masters and Relays was a successful move which got more people involved and created a better atmosphere.

The conditions gave us a glimpse of what track runners in the UK have had to endure over the years in terms of tough cross country conditions and will serve as a good foundation piece the next time that our athletes try to finish off strongly in a track race.

I was very pleased with how our runners went overall at the meet to top off our best winter season in years.
A big thanks to all the Officials,parents and especially athletes who made it all happen.