On a sun-drenched winter’s day, the students of St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School perfectly personified its core values of Respect, Aroha, Perseverance and Unity at its annual cross country competition.
The much-anticipated event, which had been postponed the previous week because of the stormy weather, proved a massive hit as the youngsters demonstrated great resolve to complete a range of energy-sapping distances across the various age groups.
In the age 10 and 11 division, the students faced a fatigue-inducing 2.4km examination, climaxed by a gruelling climb up Bolton Street before re-entering school grounds to the finish by the soccer field.
In the boys event, powerhouse cross country performer Geordie Springett lived up to his formidable reputation to sign off his St Dominic’s cross country career with a perfect six from six record.
Geordie held off a strong challenge from his fellow Kowhai house team-mate, Liam Bettelheim, to take top spot and celebrated by completing a forward roll over the finish line.
Rounding out the top three was Rigel Vangjeli of Rimu House.
“I stuck with the front three to start with, then when I was halfway through the race I started hitting corners and went past the others in front,” said an elated Geordie. “I then kept up the pace to win. I was excited and thrilled to secure a sixth win from all six years at primary school.”
A highly competitive girls’ age 10-11 race was secured by Kauri’s Gisele Herman from her fellow house-mate Olivia Jiang. As the lead competitors left the main field on to the turf and out of the school grounds on to Kay Drive – half a dozen girls were in close contention for a podium spot.
However, Gisele made her decisive move on the energy-sapping ascent up Bolton St to kick clear to victory. An impressive late burst of speed from Evie McMahon propelled the Rata house student to third.
Casey Jordan once again gave an outstanding demonstration of his athletic talents with a commanding win in the nine-year-old boys race. The Kauri house student took control of the race from the outset and simply ran the legs off the opposition with a top-quality display. Tommy Landells was the best of the rest, producing a powerful surge up Bolton St to bank a clear second spot for Rimu. Jinoy Chirackal (Kauri) produced a strong-finish to secure the final spot on the dais.
“It felt good to win,” added Casey of his nine-year-old boys’ victory. “My legs felt a bit wobbly at the end but I could have ran further.”
Despite a miscommunication which caused the field to complete part of the course in the wrong direction, Ruby Nisbet was a comfortable winner of the nine-year-old girls race.
The Rimu house student was never headed and claimed an emphatic victory from Abby Guirgis (Kauri) with Juno Ireland (Rimu) securing the third and final spot on the podium.
The eight-year-old students and under all completed their respective courses within the school grounds but the racing proved just as exhilarating.
In the eight-year-old boys race, Archie Robertson-Cox, who has carved out a reputation for cross country excellence throughout his time at St Dominic’s, once again proved invincible to clinch victory.
Dominating from the gun, the Rata student was never headed to claim top spot from Grayson Ellis (Kowhai) with Rata’s Alula Dagnew coming home in third.
Victorious Archie said of his third St Dominic’s cross country win: “I was worried I was going to lose because a couple of boys were getting faster and I was getting tired. But coming up the hill I heard my mum, so I sped up! Winning made me feel super happy and excited.”
Leilah Wood fittingly triumphed in the eight-year-old girls’ race just metres from the room eight classroom of her mother, Mrs Wood!
In a high-class race, Florence Meachen of Kauri took home second spot with Meimei Keith (Rata) completing the top three.
An elated Leilah said of her stunning victory: “I felt so happy that I reached my goal and won my race. I think everyone did a great job and tried their best on the day.”
In the 2019 edition of the St Dominic’s Cross Country Championships, James Landells (Rimu) and Dilan Swindale served up the race of the day with an thrilling battle in the under-six boys race. On that occasion the judges could not separate the pair and the dynamic cross country duo did once again not disappoint in what proved an absorbing head-to-head battle in the seven-year-old boys’ race.
The pair quickly established control of the race with James sat at the front and Dilan on his tail. However, in a scintillating finale it was James’ turn for the outright win as he edged his good buddy by a couple of metres in a tight-finish.
Tom Bettelheim – like Dilan, a Kowhai house representative – took a hard-earned third spot.
James said of his cross country win: “It is always close between me and Dilan. He’s a great friend but on the cross country course we badly want to beat each other. It was a great feeling to come first.”
The seven-year-old girls produced, arguably, the race of the day as long-time leader Keita Hira repelled the late-charging Gemma Hoff to claim a narrow victory in a thrill-a-minute battle.
In a memorable race for Rata, who claimed a clean sweep of the podium, Mila Brady grabbed third.
A delighted Keita said: “I was very proud with my performance. I was exhausted at the end, but glad to have won.”
Rimu dominated the six-year-old races led in the boys event by the incomparable Victor Shan. The youngster destroyed the opposition with an emphatic gun-to-tape victory from Vinnie Latu (Kauri) and Jayden Mai (Rata), who completed the podium positions. In the girls’ event Rimu secured the one-two with Gracy Vangjeli edging Genelle D’Souza. Summer Cleave of Kowhai also produced an accomplished performance to take third.
Our youngest students also clearly demonstrated St Dominic’s core values in the captivating five-year-old races. In the boys event, Jonty Farrell (Kowhai) produced a dominant performance to defeat Kauri duo – Kokob Abraham and Parker Taulealea, who completed the podium.
Kauri house were also prominent in the five-year-old girls race as Luana Wulf-Togafiti and Madison Lui snared first and second place. The dais was also filled by Kahurangi Hira of Rata.
While our podium dwellers created many of the headlines of the day, the effort and energy not to mention sportsmanship on show from many of the students was a delight to watch.
During the course of the morning there was numerous examples of children supporting others, notably Trystan Andrews, who selflessly stopped to assist the unfortunate Brodie Kaukau who tripped and fell in the latter stages.
St Dominic’s School Principal Daniel Pepper said of the day: Another great community event and an example of many of our school values in action especially Perseverance. I thought it was a good idea to run with the children this year however judging from my sore back, legs, feet, shoulders and arms the next day....never again!
Written by Steve Landells
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