The 125th NSW Cross Country Championships were held on Saturday 17th June at Willandra.
On a glorious winters day 28 Nowra athletes contested the Championship events amongst a crowd of nearly 700 athletes.
Emerson Boatswain competed in the U12 2km event, running a strong race to finish 14th in 8.54. In the boys event, Macca Davis was 14th in 7.55 and Tom Smart was 16th in 8.05.
In the U14 3km event, Nowra was represented by 6 athletes. Lana Crawford was the 1st athlete home for Nowra, clocking a 25 second PB to finish 20th in 11.36. Airlie Stevens was 32nd in another good time of 11.56. Evie Binney was 43rd in 12.40 and Evie Smart was not far behind in 45th in 12.50. Mikaela Monkerud was 47th in 12.52 and Lizzy Davis was 52nd in 15.14. The 1st 4 Nowra athletes, as a team, placed 7th with a collective time of 49:02.00.
Akala Miller pushed hard despite rolling her ankle mid-way on the course, and took home the silver medal in the 3km U20 para event in a PB of 20.30, providing her with an auto qualifier for Nationals.
Lily Sproule was 20th in the U15 4kms event with a time of 17.55 whilst Cam Baxter was also 20th in the boys group in 14.42. Emily McLaren ran a 1 minute 35 second PB, clocking 16.10 to place 10th in the U16 event, and Mia Monkerud was 20th in 17.27.
Nic McGill clocked a 15 second PB finishing the 4km course in 7th position in 13.31 to earn himself selection in the 2023 Australian Cross Country Championships for the U16 event. 
Oliver Baxter ran well to finish 15th in the U17 race in 20.54 whilst Harrison Baxter achieved a spot at Nationals with a 6th place in the U18 event in 19.53. Unfortunately Darcy Davis was unwell and unable to complete the 6kms U17 event.
Alisha Mustapic used the championships as fitness training and demonstrated great resilience and commitment to finish 27th in the U17 event in 18.45.
Amelia May, off the back of a great track season, ran strongly to clock 15.18 and put herself on the podium for the bronze medal in the U18 event. Amelia will now contest the Australian Cross Country Championships at Stromlo in August.
In the U20 event, Will Dyball, endured 8kms to finish 31st in 32.41 whilst Erin Smart, still smiling, tried to push through her pain but unfortunately had to withdraw from the 40+ event due to muscle tightness.
In the 50+ men’s 8km event, Nowra had 4 athletes on course. Scott Armstrong ran a strong race to place 5th in the 50-54 years subsection in a time of 34.00. Gavin Dyball was 11th in 38.42 and Dean Bryce was 13th in 40.24. Meanwhile Ming Leung was impressive with a 7th place in 36.47 in the 55-59 years group. Together the 4 Master’s men finished 5th as a Team.
Annette Sampson ran a great race to take the silver medal in the 60-64 years 6km event, clocking 30.19. Also finishing on the podium was Erich Moeller-Duhme who crossed in 3rd position in the 75-79 years event in a time of 35.07.
In addition, to the Championship events, a host of Nowra athletes enjoyed the Fun Run events. Toby Graham took out the 2km event in 8:27, Katrina Ward was 3rd in 8:39 and new member Lucinda Freeman was 5th in 9:24. Harry Davis was 8th in 10:17, Noah Dyball was 11th in 10:27 and Elizabeth Davis backed up, after her earlier Championship event to finish 12th in 10:40.
In the 4km Fun Run Mark Thirlwall was 4th in 15:24 whilst Peter Dooley was 11th in 18:03. New member Libby Freeman finished 19th in 21:19 and Sam Keogh was just behind her in 20th in 21:52. Angela Bond was 25th in 23:28, Eva Moeller-Duhme was 27th in 30:25 and Donna Johnson was 28th in 31:29.
Well done to all the competitors!