Lund leads way for NZ

Dunedin runner Catherine Lund led the New Zealand contingent to finish 35th in the women’s under-20 race at the world cross-country championships in Belgrade at the weekend.

Lund finished in 21min 53sec, 28sec ahead of fellow Dunedin athlete Zara Geddes, who placed 44th.

The top 14 places were filled by runners from long-distance powerhouses Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.

Lund, Geddes, Boh Ritchie, Ava Sutherland and Poppy Martin combined to lead New Zealand to 11th in the team standings. Georgie Grgec (41st in senior women), Matt Hill (48th in men’s under-20) and William Little (64th in senior men) were the leading Kiwis in the other races.