13-year-old runner heading to New Zealand Champs

Lake City Athletic Club member Hannah Gapes will test herself against the best when she competes at the New Zealand Cross Country Championships on Sunday. Photo / Ben Fraser

A desire to keep up with her older brothers has seen Hannah Gapes develop a flair and passion for running that will take her far.

This weekend the 13-year-old John Paul College student travels to Auckland to compete at the New Zealand Cross Country Championships.

Hannah will compete in the 3km under-15 girls' race and it will be her first time competing at the event.

"I really want to get a good time and just do the best I can - I'd like to get under 11 minutes," Hannah said.

She won her age group at the North Island Cross Country Championships earlier this month in a time of 11 minutes and 18 seconds and said she was training hard to beat the 11-minute mark.

"I've been working on hills and doing different styles of running, long distance, sprints and tempo runs.

"I'd like to get a placing but it is a pretty tough competition.

"I train four or five times a week. I really enjoy being able to get fit while I'm enjoying my surroundings.

"I am competitive, I like to win races. I have three brothers, one younger and two older, and they are good runners as well."

That competitiveness and love of the sport has helped Hannah build an impressive resume.

Last year she won two medals at the New Zealand Aims Games, coming first in multisport and second in cross country.

She has won the JPC cross country the last two years and won her age group in the Lynmore Primary School cross country every year she was there.

This year she won 3000m, 1500m and 800m at JPC. She won the 3000m and 1500m at the Mid Island Athletics Championships and won the Waikato Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools cross country.

She is the Waikato Bay of Plenty club and Lake City Athletic club cross country champion for her age group.

She finished sixth in the New Zealand Secondary Schools Cross Country and third with the Waikato Bay of Plenty relay team.

On top of all that she plays second XI hockey for JPC and participates in rock climbing, badminton, tennis and mountain biking. She was named the Sports Dux Ludorum for Year 7 and 8 at JPC last year.

"Running is number one. I train after hockey and stuff at night with my dad," Hannah said.

"I really enjoy going to all the different events, I know most of the people I'm racing against and it's fun travelling to different places."

Her long-term goal is to represent New Zealand.

"I need to train hard and just keep at it, while still enjoying it.

"Sometimes when it's miserable and cold I don't really feel like it, but I think about the reward at the end and just keep motivated."

She would like to see more people her age give running a go.

"It would be cool to see more people get into running, not that many do it. It's not an expensive sport and it helps keep fit for a range of different sports."