Round 1 of the 2025 Winter Cross Country season took place at the Shoalhaven UOW course on Saturday 5th April.
The 1km course was completed by 2 competitors with Grace Parmenter finishing first in a quick time of 7.11 followed by Will Chisolm in 17.03.
In the 2km event there were 7 participants. It was brothers-in-arms at the front of the pack! Declan Lee made the transition from track season to cross country with a win in 15.41 with brother Cobey Lee right on his heels in 15.47. Jameson Day was 3rd in 16.43, with his brother Xander Day crossing right behind him in 16.45. Isabella Parmenter was 5th in 16.47 then Charli Keogh was 6th in 18.43 and Armani Murrell was 7th in 18.46.
There were 11 contenders in the 3km event and the hard-fought win went to Kai Thirwall who crossed in 11.15, just edging out Emerson Boatswain who clocked 11.35. In 3rd place was the resilient Bill Turnbull in 19.33. Jackson Golding was 4th in 20.20 followed closely by Geoff Crook in 20.43 and Lisa Carroll in 20.49. Cathleen Chang ran in 7th in 21.00 and she was followed by the Lee trio of Zachary (24.01), Kirralee (24.51) and Heath (25.08). Rounding out the field in 11th place was Tim Musson in 26.05.
The biggest group of runners contested the medium course with 13 competitors. Dennis Smart took the win in 20.20. It was great to see Scott Armstrong back running, taking 2nd place in 21.45, whilst 3rd place went to new runner Paige Connolly-Davies in 25.37. Darren Morris was 4th in 26.27 followed by Mark Parmenter in 27.07. In the middle of the field were regular runners Alex Arnold (31.03), Rod Rose (31.04), Katie Martin (32.15), Natasha Toms (32.47), Sky Martin (38.17) and Eva Moeller-Duhme (41.23). It was fantastic to see Nathan Rose running cross country after a top track and field season. Nathan finished 12th in 41.57 and the field was completed by Robyn Khourey in 47.05.
There were 7 athletes in long course (10kms). It was a real race to the finish line for the top 2 runners with Scott Martin given the line honours in 43.20 just in front of Leith Babian who clocked 43.21. Scott Johnson was 3rd in 52.37 whilst father-son duo crossed next with Jarvis and Perry Strand finishing in equal 5th place in 56.07. Erich Moeller-Duhme completed the long course field in 1.00.49.
Next Saturday cross country will be at Huskisson. The course starts near Huskisson soccer fields. If you are driving into Huskisson on Huskisson Rd, take the first right after Husky Sports Bowling Club into Kioloa St. We hope to see you all there.