Finally, after a two-month delay, due to COVID, the 123rd NSW Cross Country Championships were held on the weekend of 10th-11th October 2020 at West Dapto.
Entries for the event from under 11 to 80+ masters attracted 800 competitors from across the State; hugely popular after a long hiatus from competition. However, there was just a handful of athletes from Nowra who competed as the focus has now shifted for most, to the current track season.
Those that did compete though, performed extremely well.
Erin Smart took herself well out of her comfort zone, completing the 10km course with great control and determination. Erin finished 12th overall and was 2nd across the line for athletes aged 35-39 years, clocking 47.31. However the 36 year old Marnie Ponton from Bankstown who was the fastest 35+ runner, actually competed under the Opens section, where she placed 2nd in that category in a quick time of 36.20, finishing in front of 19 year old Keely Small, the Australian middle-distance runner, which meant Nowra’s Erin Smart took gold in the 35-39 years category. Great job Erin!
Matt Lewis competed in the Opens 10km race and finished 23rd, crossing in 35.47. The 28-year-old was 11th in the Under 30’s category.
Annette Sampson proudly brought home a bronze medal after finishing in 3rd place in the 55-59 years 6km event. Annette finished in 33.01 minutes. Congratulations Annette!
Workhorse Peter Dooley pushed hard for 4th in the 60-64 years event, clocking 34.24. Peter wasn’t far off bronze medal placegetter, Peter Hutton from Sutherland who crossed in 34:05
In the junior races, Cameron Baxter finished 9th in the Under 12 3km event, clocking 11.36 whilst Emily McLaren was 10th in the Under 13 event, crossing in 11.55.
Unfortunately in the under 13 race Jett Goddard finished 10th but the whole field, except the winner, was disqualified because some mistakenly took a shortcut.
In the Under 14 race Nowra had three competitors; Tom Duncan was 10th in 10.32, Oliver Baxter was 21st in 11.31 and Hamish McLaren was 22nd in 11.36.
In the Under 15, 4km race Harrison Baxter clocked 14.21 for 9th place and in the Under 17 event, Jasper Arnold clocked 23.33 over 6kms for 13th place.
It was a huge effort from all Nowra athletes.
