Lund shows patience to claim national title

There were no signs of panic from Catherine Lund.

As Auckland’s Bella Earl powered away at a blistering pace to open the women’s under-18 national cross-country championships, the Otago runner did not stray from her plan.

Catherine Lund.
Catherine Lund.

Lund remained composed, content to tuck into the chasing pack, before gradually hauling in Earl at the halfway mark.

She finished 36sec ahead of Earl, completing the course at Taupo’s Spa Thermal Park on Sunday in 18min 21sec.

Fellow Otago runner Zara Geddes, who had beaten Lund to claim the national secondary schools title earlier this year, trailed in 19min 20sec to win bronze.

Geddes had initially been the one to try to close the gap on Earl. She chased and was in a clear second for a period, before Lund made her move and the Otago duo ran together briefly.

However, it was Lund who was able to kick on. She passed Earl and almost immediately hammered home her advantage, putting her foot down and pulling away with ease.

It was another impressive performance from the Otago duo, who have had a fantastic winter both on the local and national stages.

Oliver O’Sullivan claimed a second gold medal for Otago.

The Hill City-University runner finished in 27min 15sec to win the men’s 35-plus 8km
race by 33sec.

Queenstown’s Sarah Douglas also claimed gold, finishing the 6km course in 23min 44sec to win the women’s 35-plus race by over a minute.

Ariki’s Jennifer Walker provided Otago its other medal, a silver in the women’s 40-44 6km race.

Queenstown claimed two medals in the relay races.

James McLeay, Siena Mackley, Kennedy Taylor and Jude Deaker won gold in the under-18 race, while Benjamin Britton, Sammy Fookes, Sarah Douglas and Gareth Harcombe claimed bronze in the senior race.

North Harbour Bays’ Matthew Taylor ran 31min 24sec to win the senior men’s 10km title from Christchurch Avon’s Cameron Avery. Lisa Cross (TTT Runners) won the senior women’s title, her time of 36min 44sec beating Hamilton City Hawks’ Kerry White.