Irving, Morrow head Gisborne title chase

CENTRE CHAMPIONS: Steve Morrow won the men’s 35-years-and-over division at the Hawke’s Bay Gisborne cross-country championships in Gisborne last weekend. Pictures by Liam Clayton

TALENTED teenager Briana Irving and master-aged Steve Morrow led the local performance at the Athletics Hawke’s Bay Gisborne cross-country championships at Hexton on Saturday.

In fine conditions on a testing course at the Tietjen property on Back Ormond Road, the Gisborne Harrier Club pair made no contest of their age-group races.

Morrow won the men’s 35-years-and-over eight-kilometre race in a time of 32 minutes 31 seconds. He was over two and a half minutes clear of Hastings runner Phil McKay in the 16-strong field.

Irving, as expected, was far too strong in the under-14 girls’ 4km race. She averaged 4min 10 secs in winning in 16:38 — nearly two minutes clear of second-placed Alia Wents (Napier).

Gisborne dominated the women’s 35yr-and-over 6km race. Nadine McKinnon (30:45) won from Christine Carleton (31:07) and Katie Edwards (31:13).

The senior men’s 10km race was a thriller, with Lucus Duross holding off Napier clubmate Kristian Day to win by one second in 38:17. Gisborne’s Rocky Smyth (44:54) was fourth.

Ruby Muir (Napier) comfortably won the senior women’s 10km title in 42:37 from Michelle Rennie (46:08) and Gisborne clubmate Helayna Ruifrok (54:48).

Gisborne runners featured in most other divisions.

Local legend Ron Robertson (28:47) won the men’s 65yr-and-over 6km race from Terry Packman (34:23); Christy Tate (19:12) won the u18 girls’ 4km race from Sarah Palfi (21:36); LeSharn Anderson (8:47) won the u12 girls’ 2km race from Chloe Kapene (9:16); the u7 girls’ and boys’ titles went to Auric Pocock and Willa Neems; and Christine Palfi (36:37) won the 4km walk from Dave Hughes (44:18).

Hastings runner Charlie Roil topped the largest field — 17 — to win the u12 boys’ 2km race in 8:28, Ollie Marshall (Napier) won the u14 boys’ 4km race in 15:54 and William Little (Napier) won the u18 men’s 6km title in 24:54.