ATHLETICS - French digs deep to finally triumph

Dylan French's determination to chalk up a victory in the annual Whangarei Boys' High School cross-country paid off when he triumphed after a hard-fought race to take the senior boys' title.
French, a Year-13 student, had been runner-up in his grade on three or more occasions but still had not won a championship until Thursday, when he dug deep to burst clear of Tim Riddell near the end of the 5km course.
"It was just me and Tim Riddell - we were a couple of hundred metres in front at halfway and we just kept pushing it until about the last kilometre to go and I tried to make a break from him - and it paid off," French said.
"I got about 20 metres ahead - then, in the last straight, I slowed down a bit - but I knew I had him."
Ryan Carter ran strongly to head off Casey Clarkson in the intermediate grade, while in the junior grade Ethan Cater stayed close to the leaders without forcing the pace until the last 200 metres, after which he sprinted to victory.
Boys' High headmaster Al Kirk continued the example he sets each year by completing the cross-country course.
This Thursday the school's top runners will join other class competitors around the region for the Northland secondary schools cross-country championships at Barge Park, in Maunu, Whangarei.