Luck favoured the younger runners but not their older brethren at the 2017 Whanganui inter-intermediate schools cross-country at Wanganui Collegiate on Thursday afternoon.
Numbers were strong for the annual event, with 16 schools represented across the 160 runners in Year 7 and Year 8 events.
With dark rain clouds threatening on the horizon, the Year 7 races over 1.9km got away fine in dry conditions after their 1.30pm start.
However, a huge downpour landed by the time the Year 8 girls were out on their 2.7km course, making conditions difficult for them and the Year 8 boys who followed them.
St George's School were the organising hosts this year.
Results
Individual
Year 7 Girls: 1. Kate Speedy (Huntley), 8m 4s; 2. Kathleen Dacalaap (Whanganui Intermediate) 8m 15s; 3. Katie Ramage (Whanganui Intermediate), 8m 22s.
Year 7 Boys: 1. Chase Morpeth (Whanganui Intermediate), 6m 59s; 2. Jonathan Jamieson (Huntley), 7m 1s; 3. Oliver Jones (St George's), 7m 16s.
Year 8 Girls: 1. Josephine Perkins (Whanganui Intermediate), 11m 42s; 2. Paige Cromarty (Westmere), 11m 52s; 3. Sophie Perkins (Brunswick), 12m 10s.
Year 8 Boys: 1. Nat Kirk (Whanganui Intermediate), 10m 11s; 2. Morgan Murray (Westmere), 10m 18s; 3. Hunter Gibson (Whanganui Intermediate), 10m 24s.
Teams
3 to Count - Year 7 Girls: 1. WIS (11); 2. St George's (16); 3. Huntley (42). Year 7 Boys: 1. St George's (13); 2. WIS (16); 3. Huntley (21). Year 8 Girls: 1. WIS (18); 2. Huntley (34); 3. Hunterville (36). Year 8 Boys: WIS (9); 2. St George's (33); 3. St Mary's (47).
6 to Count - Year 7 Girls: 1. WIS (41); 2. St George's (71). Year 7 Boys: 1. WIS (57); 2. Huntley (80); 3. St George's (97). Year 8 Girls: 1. WIS (75); 2. Hunterville (128); 3. St George's (144). Year 8 Boys: 1. WIS (45); 2. St George's (131).