Inter-regional Cross-Country - by Oliver Costley

“ARE WE READY READY?”

“YES WE ARE READY READY!”

“Uh oh here comes wellington!” They parade onto the field en masse as we all watch. Here we are at the inter-regional cross-country event. South Canterbury make a feeble attempt to counter Wellington's chant, but Wellington overpowers them with numbers and noise.

All four teams huddle under their respective tents waiting nervously for the organizer to present the race briefing.After a few minutes, I hear a speaker calling out over the murmuring crowd. It is time.

I go between the car and tent, gradually getting more nervous waiting for warm-up time. At 10:00 I choked down the one thing I would have before the race (some creamy rice). Little did I know it would be my downfall. At 11:00 I head over to Tasman’s warm-up area. I am full of nerves, but I know as soon as the clappers clap, all my nerves will fade away in the blink of an eye. 

After my warm-up, I head over to Tasman’s starting bay. I jump up and down a few times to get in the zone and then the starter walks over. “On your marks!” we all get ready to run, BANG! We are off. I am controlled at the start because I know I have 3 kms to make my move. I zoom up the small hill at the end of the straight and when I get to the top, I get a great surprise! Ankle deep slippery mud. Great. Everyone is slipping and sliding and to stop myself I put a hand on the guy in front of me. I stay on my feet and run around the corner, over the bridge, and up the big hill. I am up with the top bunch for the first time in this event and I am not even tired. I ran around the back of the course while staying with the bunch and around into lap 2 of 3. I am running comfortably around 8th place and when I get to the small hill this time, I am ready. I tip-toe down without slipping and I am still with the bunch. I am still running within myself around the back until it happens. What I had been dreading. The stitch. I don’t have a rock in my hand like training, so I have to tough it out for the next lap and a bit. I got to the back of the course for the third time and I am pretty much dead. I have drifted a bit off the bunch, but I am still in a good position. Yes! The last corner! I am so close I stagger to the finish and lie down. I am done. 12th place. My best ever.      

Tasman x-country team results for WIS students

Year 7 Boys

Ethan Clarke 22nd

Elias Sinclair 24th

Sam Bryant 26th

Year 7 Girls

Hazel Hunt 9th

Year 8 Boys

Oliver Costley 12th

Year 8 Girls

Brooke Hutchinson 21st

Ava Lausen 23rd

Taylor Clements 27th

Maddie Gill 29th