Cross County Report | Meet 1 vs Waverley and St Aloysius’ – 30 April 2022

The first event of the Cross Country season brought with it much anticipation and excitement, and rightly so! Neither rain nor mud nor months of unchecked grass growth could dampen the excitement after two curtailed seasons. North Ryde Common looked more like North Ryde Wetlands, which had many parents and coaches commenting – in the comfort of various warm, winter layers – that this was “proper” cross country. And so it was! We are immensely proud of all of our runners.

Our U14s team started as they finished last year: fast. Our point-scoring team comprised of our first four finishers, namely Matthew M. (9WJ) in 1^st, Kobe S. (8YO) in 2^nd, Joshua L. (8TA) in 7^th and Michael S. (8ST) in 20^th. With only 30 points between them – the aim, like golf, being to attain the lowest score – they achieved a comfortable victory. Seeing Matthew and Kobe battle it out for the individual victory was a familiar sight for many, and we look forward to seeing many closely fought friendly battles this season! Michael is clearly fitter and stronger than last year, and it was great to see him run so well. Newcomer Sam R. (8WJ) added “gruelling muddy run” to his list of first-week-at-the-school adventures, showing heart to place extremely well in 24^th and push Michael to the limit. Maxwell M. (7WJ) is a classic example of how one’s attitude can positively affect one’s experience; his enthusiasm to run the first race of the season – his first at Trinity – led to an impressive result for an under U13s runner in the top 70. Another highlight from this age group includes the teamwork of Noah A. (8HE), Aaryn J. (7HO) and Thomas D. (9HO), who managed to place in the top 100 by running in a pack and pushing each other consistently to run faster.

Our U16s team was our smallest on the weekend, including a number of students who have chosen Cross Country as a second sport and others who are recovering from injury. Nonetheless, we managed to secure 8^th overall and 3^rd among the CAS schools. Ashwin S. (11HI) led the team strongly, placing well in 26^th, modelling not only speed but also a successful fishing adventure to find a slightly loose shoe which had been lost in the deepest of the muddy puddles (or should I say rivers?). Ethan M. (9HO), in his first-ever run for the school, ran a consistent race, passing a number of fast starters in his final lap to place a very commendable 46^th. Post-race photos will bear witness to the muddy adventures he admirably endured with a smile! Meanwhile, Jack O. (10HE) and Chris Q. (11DU), familiar faces in the Trinity Cross Country fraternity, ran solid races to round out our point-scoring team.

Our Opens squad, in full attendance, demonstrated the remarkable depth that we enjoy in that age group this year. By the time that their race began, the mud was virtually ubiquitous, so multiple slipping episodes were inevitable. From a spectator’s perspective, there was certainly an element of entertainment value in watching the regular falls, but they were also almost always followed by a gritty, resigned smile! Our top four runners included Joseph C. (11DU) in 8^th, James S. (12WJ) in 12^th, Jack W. (11KE) in 15^th and captain Zachary P. (12HO) in 16^th. These four boys all ran well – Jack even running up an age group and taking it easy as he recovers from a niggle – and secured an impressive team victory for Trinity, narrowly beating King’s and Grammar for the top spot. Other highlights from this age group include Matthew L.’s (12TA) very solid placing of 27^th (pleasing to see after many injury struggles last year!), Alexander B.’s (12FO) unintentionally mud-cleansing post-fall slide through a huge puddle, Keelan S.’s (12HI) classic grit to finish one place ahead of Ryan G. (11WJ) in his first Opens race, and Ivan L.’s (12WH) consistency in his first race of the season.

It is hard to imagine more difficult race conditions than Saturday’s, so well done to all of our runners, who competed with such good spirits! We look forward to our second meet of the season tomorrow at Centennial Park.

In running,

Phillip Mugridge | Co-ordinator of Cross Country