Siena, 17, won the senior girls’ title, using her strength and skillsto power up the hills and pull away from her rivals in the 4km race.
James, 16, in a field billed as the most stacked ever, staved off late challengers to finish 5th in his 6km race.
The training buddies — who’d both won South Island titles a month earlier — the following day banded together with two Southlanders to win the 4x2km mixed senior cross country relay race.
Their coach Neville Britton notes secondary schools XC is one of the most prestigious sports events in NZ — many previous winners have gained full athletics scholarships to top United States universities. Siena and James are also on the short qualifying list to make the NZ under-20 team to contest the world cross country champs in Florida next year.
