We would like to establish the Roncalli Cross Country team for 2020. Our goal for this season is that our runners will enjoy the beauty and challenges that our beautiful landscape has to offer. Variations in weather and terrain provide an unique adventure every time they race. The appeal of running cross country is that it truly is a team sport, with medals often decided by runners rather than those that finish first.

Although, a weekly training session will be held at school, it is expected that students will train individually, with the addition of group sessions organised by coaching team of Craig Motley and Gaela Kilgour. (027 560 0766, craig.motley@gmail.com)

We have identified the following school based events this season leading up to the New Zealand Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships (NZSSXC) in Hawera on 19th September, to which we will be taking a team.

The NZSSXC has 3 age groups - Year 9, Junior (U16) and Senior (U19), with three and six person teams categories in each age group. There is the potential to be selected for the Aoraki Secondary Schools team for the Inter Provincial relays held on the Sunday after NZSSXC. Last year 15 students participated in the Aoraki Cross Country and produced some great results.

Runners may choose to attend all or some of these events and will only be charged for those events in which the runner has taken part in. Runners will only be selected to travel to NZSSXC if they have competed in at least one XC race beforehand (exception for medical) and can provide evidence of training for the event.

Listed below are a few club based events and if you are interested in these events please contact Craig and Gaela. Essentially you must be registered with an Athletics NZ club (such as Run Timaru) to compete in these events.

Please contact Mrs Dickerson (l.dickerson@roncalli.school.nz) if you would like to join the Cross Country team.

We look forward to the season.