Cross-country: Feed of Macca's way to celebrate

Rotorua runner Paige Satchell enjoyed a big feed of McDonald's at the weekend after winning this year's New Zealand Secondary Schools cross-country champs.

The 14-year-old John Paul College student was too strong for the 126 competitors in the Year-9 girls' division, winning in a personal best time of 10m 40.50s, ahead of her nearest rival Christchurch's Ari Graham (St Andrews College) 10m 51.08s.

"I'm really excited," she said. "It wasn't easy and I had to run hard to win it but I just listen to what my coach's [Mark Edmonds'] plan and it worked."

Edmonds said it was "neck and neck" for the 3km race.

"Within the first kilometre, Paige and Ari had broken away from the field to fight it out. The lead changed many times.

"Paige and I talked about making a break on the last hill approximately 800m from the finish, which she did winning by 60 to 70m."

After the race, Paige said her parents were going to take her to McDonald's to celebrate the win.

"It's my favourite take-away and I think I've earned it today."

Edmonds said the course at St Kentigern College in Auckland had suited the youngster.

"It was a course with rolling, sharp hills with the odd flats and some muddy areas. I just told her to get out front and stay with the Christchurch girl.

"It's Paige's best time and I think that is the result of the stiff competition she was up against with Ari.

"But Paige is this little machine who just put on the after burners at the right time and the other girl couldn't keep with her. She's just a little champion and I'm very proud of her."

Standing at a mere 1.5m and weighing in at a waif 33kg, Paige is one of the smallest competitors but has one of the biggest hearts, Edmonds said.

"I knew she would do it. It was going to take a really great runner to beat her. But she never gives up, she really hates to lose. She is a really great kid."

Paige said she was keen to compete at next year's champs but would now concentrate on her other sport, football.

"It's winter time now so there is no athletics but I'll be back come summer time running the track."

Results:

New Zealand Secondary Schools cross-country champs: Year-9 girls; Paige Satchell (JPC), 10.40.50, 1; Ari Graham (St Andrews College), 10.51.08, 2; Erin Conway (Tauranga Girls' High School), 11.09.26, 3; Madeline Wilson (Samuel Marsden Collegiate School), 11.46.46, 4; Katlin Petherick (Pukekohe High School), 11.51.00, 5.