Latest news with #HillCity-University
Otago Daily Times
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Cold brings ‘perfect day' for rejigged competition
A cool and crisp day greeted about 100 athletes who took part in the Barnes Cross Country race last Sunday. Runners and walkers setting off from Kettle Park had the benefit of firm ground conditions for the competition. Caversham Harrier & Athletic Club's Nicholas Duncan sped around the 1.25km loop in 5min 22sec to top the boys under-10 grade, while Hill City-University's Stella Hawken won the girls under-10 in 5min 47sec. Perry Saker (Caversham) claimed the boys under-12 honours in 4min 54sec and Genevieve Hodgson (Hill City-University) headed the girls under-12 in 5min 12sec. In the two laps (2.5 km) category, Hill City-University pair Luie Broom (9min 50sec) and Penelope Hodgson (10min 38sec) secured the boys and girls under-14 titles respectively. Will Bolter (Hill City-University) was the day's quickest under-16, clocking 8min 16sec, with Caversham's Eve Kelleher taking the girls under-16 in a sharp 9min 30sec. Eight competitors lined up for the 5km walk. Veteran Phil Coakes (Caversham) won the men's 75-79 category in 47min 24sec and Glenda Norris (Leith) won the women's 70-74 category at 35min 43sec. Age-group victories in the women's walk went to Lara Findlater (50-54, 38min 50sec), Sharyn Bungard (55-59, 38min 29sec) and Jo Little (60-64, 38min 15sec). The largest field tackled the 5km run, where Hill City-University's Jake Owen set the day's benchmark of 15min 49sec in the men 20-24 category. Caversham's Becky De La Harpe was the fastest woman, finishing in 18min 2sec in the 20-34 category. Other age-group winners included Oliver O'Sullivan (men 35-39, 16min 30sec), Hamish Dobson (men 40-44, 18min 28sec), Jonathan Ryan (men 45-49, 18min 21sec), Kristy Eyles (women 40-44, 19min 32sec) and Jade Lee (women 50-54, 27min 2sec). Leith Harrier & Athletic Club president Chris Sole was the first athlete to cross the finish line in the 5km run, clocking an actual time of 26min 10sec after his nine-minute handicap start. Sole said alterations to the course at this year's event, including reversing the direction and eliminating two short connecting tracks, made for a better course which included a "fun" short sharp hill climb. The conditions made for a "perfect day" for the rejigged race. "Taking a risk, participating in events, supporting one another, may evoke a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that is personally uplifting, possibly enjoyable and fun." This had the effect of having far-reaching positive impact on the wider training group and families, he said. "This impact cannot be measured. You win, we all win."
Otago Daily Times
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Popular winner for cross country
It has been 23 years since Chris Sole first called Otago home, but yesterday was the first time the Leith Harriers president could call himself Barnes Cross Country Champion. The 67-year-old took the lead from club-mate Jocelyn Springthorpe after the halfway mark of the prestigious 5km handicap race and never looked back. 'I thought there must be someone ahead of me,' Sole said moments after his victory. His attention had already switched to helping reel in the hundreds of metres of polytape which had marked the course. 'Nobody told me that I was in the lead.' The scene summed up much of who Sole is. Beloved by many on the Otago athletics scene, he has at some point been coach or physiotherapist for much of the field, which poured in pursuit down Kettle Park's final hilly bank during the race's final stretch. Having achieved much in the sport during his younger years, Sole continues to compete in Masters and handicap races, while also dedicating significant time to volunteering and growing the running movement in Dunedin. 'Showing up to these events — it's about continuing to challenge yourself.' The modest champion was not speaking exclusively of himself, but also the 93 other racers who took to yesterday's start line, many of whom attend the semiweekly trainings Sole organises on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. 'It's really about continuing to strive to be better — showing up to an extra training each week and enjoying running with others.' As much as he focuses on supporting others' goals, Sole quietly enjoyed the moment of realising his own victory but relished even more encouraging others to push hard towards the finish line. Among the many finishing behind him was Hill City-University's Jake Owen, who came from the back of the field to record the fastest 5km split in 15min 49sec. Meg McKay (also HCU) recorded the fastest women's time of 19min 15sec on a day which yielded perfect winter conditions. Hill City-University won the 5km teams race, while Fergus Lloyd (community runner) was first over the line in the under-16 handicapped 2.5km. William Bolter (HCU) was fastest man in 8min 16sec and Eve Kelleher (Caversham) fastest woman in 9min 30sec. HCU was the top junior team. Phil Coakes (Caversham) led from scratch to secure victory in the 5km walks, although he was chased hard by Jo Little (Caversham) over the closing stages who, starting 9min 30sec behind Coakes, recorded the fastest time of 38min 15sec to come within 50m of snatching victory. Their combined efforts helped to secure the team walks title for Caversham. Many athletes, including Sole, will now take a week off racing before turning their attention to the Edmond Cup cross country on June 28. — Luke Geddes
Otago Daily Times
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Clubs share titles, demonstrating depth of talent
Otago's rising runners get under way in the Lovelock Relays at the University Oval on Saturday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY DAWBIN The depth of Otago's middle-distance talent was demonstrated at the Lovelock Relays on Saturday. Nearly every local club picked up a title across the 11 races at the 88th edition of the event at the University Oval. Hill City-University, who organised the 1500m relay event, edged Leith to win the senior men's race. Matt Bolter, Harry Witt — who had the fastest time of 4min 13sec — Alex Witt, Giles Witt, Ruie Hyslo and Jake Owen finished the six-person relay in 26min 32sec to snatch the win. Stephen Johnson, Graham Fisher, James Davies, Jude Deaker, Finbar Chesney and Nathan Hill were not far off the pace for Leith with 27min 23sec. Leith made a clean sweep of the top three spots in the senior women's race. The club lived up to the hype of being pre-race favourites, after a long era of dominance from Hill City, amid a huge downpour. Stephanie Wilson, Caitlin O'Donnell, Claudia Sole and Alice Cuthbert finished the four-person relay in 21min 29sec, ahead of club-mates Jessica Bray, Izzy Macdonald, Martha Vickers and Laura Bungard with 22min 34sec. Caversham Panthers runner Becky de la Harpe was the only woman to go under the five-minute mark and produced the fastest time of 4min 57sec in her team's fourth-place finish. Studholme won back-to-back titles in the residential college mixed relay race. The race, which was introduced two years ago, has become a popular edition to the historic relays and strengthened the relationship between athletics and the University of Otago. Studholme runners Tamihana Toni, Eve Tonascia, Sophie Whiteman and Lyon Rogers won in 23min 25sec. Hill City held off a strong contest from Ariki in the masters men's over 35 race. Oliver O'Sullivan, Mark Geddes, Jeff Leckie and Neil Broom finished in 20min 24sec, 10sec ahead of Ariki's Hamish Dobson, Xaviour Walker, Eddie Smith and Aaron Poter. Hill City also won the women's over 35 edition, with Aly Craigie, Georgy Pakeho, Lia Bezett and Taryn McLean finishing in 22.16sec, nearly one minute ahead of Leith. Caversham won the under-18 mixed event and Hill City won the under-16, under-14 and under-12 mixed races. Ariki won the men's over 50 race and the mixed social race.
Otago Daily Times
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Relays poised to be ‘celebration of running'
Locked and loaded. A bumper number of runners will be lacing up their shoes and hitting the ground running for the annual Lovelock Relays at the University Oval this afternoon. About 63 teams have entered the event, organised by Hill City-University, across the 11 divisions from the flagship senior men's and women's races to social relays. Hill City-University president Mark Geddes was thrilled to see so many people involved. "It's a real celebration of running," Geddes said. "It's really, really encouraging to see the sort of response to something like this." The senior races are always an intriguing contest — Hill City won both titles last year — and the men's will be a shootout between Leith and Hill City's top teams again. Leith is fielding a strong team for the six-man race in Stephen Johnson, Graham Fisher, Nathan Hill, Finbar Chesney, James Davies and Jude Deaker and Hill City are right beside them with Matt Bolter, Harry Witt, Alex Witt, Giles Witt, Ruie Hyslop and Jake Owen. Both clubs have their depth on display with four teams from each club rounding out the race. Leith is shaping as one of the hot favourites in the senior women's race with Stephanie Wilson, Caitlin O'Donnell, Claudia Sole and Alice Cuthbert. Hill City has had a complete re-jig, with all four runners who won the event last year unavailable this year, but Geddes was still thrilled they have been able to field two teams. Caversham will also be in the mix as contenders. The Otago University residential college mixed relay continues to go from strength to strength, with seven teams entered for the third edition of the event. Salmond lead the charge with three teams and a group called "locals", who are university students not at the halls of residence, have also strung together a team to compete in a new initiative. The masters races, both of which were won by Leith last season, are also looking strong and plenty of rising stars are getting in on the action in the under-18, under-16, under-14 and under-12 grades. Racing starts at 1pm today.
