Class dominates meet +Photos

The favoured brigade performed as expected in the main events at yesterday's annual Wanganui Secondary Schools Cross Country at Collegiate School.

Senior boys' pre-post favourite Geordie Beamish showed his class that won him the under-18 North Island and National titles by easily winning the 5km race over the school's golf course despite conceding he was a "tad tired" after playing hockey the night before against Napier Boys' High. Collegiate were the losers in that match, 6-3.

Collegiate athletics coach Alec McNab pulled him from the 1st XI hockey match yesterday morning ahead of his afternoon race.

Meanwhile, former classy junior Naomi Craig from Wanganui High School had daylight between her and second place in the senior girls 4km race and proved she was on track for the upcoming nationals in Christchurch next month.

McNab said Craig was an athlete of national class and had an opportunity to make the New Zealand team to compete in the Australian Championships in Tasmania in August.

"She needs to finish in the top 12 at the nationals to be invited to compete for her country in Australia, but she is of national class," McNab said yesterday.

Beamish (16) is also nationals-bound after beating fellow team mate and club captain Lyndon Roberts yesterday with promising triathlete James Wright from Wanganui High School third.

"The nationals are my next priority and it was useful having this event to use as a training run," Beamish said yesterday.

"Before the race I was a bit tired after playing hockey for the school the night before and in fact I fell asleep in English class this morning."

Craig (15) said while her race felt tough she was happy enough with her performance leading up to the nationals.

"I finished 13th in the junior class at the nationals last year and missed a spot in the New Zealand team by one placing. This year I will really dig deep and hopefully make the team this season," Craig said.

McNab said he was particularly pleased with the performances of his Collegiate under-16 girls with Alice Bird leading the charge.

As expected Bird took the lead early and cleared out for a huge victory.

"Our junior girls are class acts, particularly Alice,' McNab said.

"Collegiate is really keen to be selected as the New Zealand secondary school to represent New Zealand at the Worlds in Israel next year. The Collegiate boys were selected in 2008 and the girls in 2010. We have a very good chance, especially with the girls this year."