Australian and Australian All Schools National Cross Country Championships Launceston 2013

75 athletes and 7 officials from WA (School Sport and Association representatives) travelled over to Launceston for the Australian Cross Country Championships at Symons Plains on Saturday 31 August 2013.  Those of the team that competed last year would be able to compare notes as this was a true cross country course in the fashion of Adelaide 2012, for the newcomers their first such experience.  Fortunately the rain stayed away for the big day however there had been enough rain the previous days to make the course boggy and heavy under foot, a fantastic combination providing an opportunity for challenging racing conditions.  As always the competition was fierce however WA athletes ran well with the highlights of the day being the medal winners Ben Chamberlain (Gold) who held off a challenge from the Queenslanders and in the end pulled away to a magnificent and clear victory.  Douglas Foulkes – Taylor (Silver), hoping for a top ten finish, ran above his own expectations and won Silver, third across the line just being pipped by the New Zealander.

Kate Fitzsimons ran brilliantly to secure a silver in the under 23 race held within the open women’s race in which she came 8^th overall.  She is a first year open/under 23 having competed in the  under 20’s  last year where she also won silver. 

Other WA results:

Open Women – Linda Spencer 7^th

Open Men – Josh Tedesco 14^th , under 23 position to be confirmed; Stuart Caulfield 24^th; Kim Thomas 35th

Under 20 Women – Mathilda Connell 11^th

Under 20 Men – James Finney 29^th

Under 16 girls – Sarah Hynes 55^th; Tanisha Cayley 67^th

Under 14 boys – MJ Jansen Van Rensburg 53^rd; Josh Mott 62^nd

Under 14 girls – Mikaela Dickson 64^th

^{For complete results go to http://www.nswathletics.info/liveresults/2013/aa_cc/}

^{With thanks to Athletics WA rep/team manager Paul Heywood for this report}