KEY POINTS:
Aucklander Esther Keown has won the girls' 3000m race at the world schools cross country championships in the Czech Republic.
The Auckland Girls' Grammar School student, 15, was a clear winner in a time of nine minutes 19 seconds, beating the Belgian pair of Zenobi Van Gansbeke and Eline Dalemans by 6sec at the weekend.
New Zealand also won the teams race, with Hannah Newbould, of Cashmere High School, fourth, Nicki McFadzien, of Villa Maria College, sixth, and Olivia Burne, of Palmerston North Girls' High, 12th.
The New Zealanders combined for 23 points, to beat Algeria on 49, England 51 and Australia 76.
Keown will next represent New Zealand at the world junior track and field championships in Poland in July in the 1500m.
Aaron Pulford, of Hauraki Plains College, was the highest placed New Zealander in the boys' 5000m, finishing 17th.
- NZPA
