CROSS-COUNTRY - Teen makes bold bid against older runners

Promising 17 year-old Dylan French made a bold bid to head off the in-form older runners in Athletics Whangarei's combined cross-country with Hatea Harriers at the Tikipunga Sports Park on Saturday.
French shot off to an early lead, which he held until near the end of the second lap, but the following bunch of Ian Calder, Mike Gowing and Rob Lieffering kept in close contact.
With the third and final lap coming up, Calder increased the tempo, before coming home fast at the end of the 6km run to take first place with a comfortable lead. Gowing drew on his strength to take second place, while a tiring French held on for third ahead of Lieffering.
French said that he had found it hard with the others pushing the pace in the final lap, but he was pleased considering that he hadn't done much training recently.
John Kent, Hatea's first runner, finished sixth. As well as the men's 6km event, runners and walkers competed over 2km and 4km.
Sixteen-year-old Ryan Slater, who rushed to Tikipunga after playing soccer, took first place overall in the 4km run, but was only seven seconds ahead of Travis Connelly - who had also played soccer in the morning.
Zac Sinclair, Hatea Harriers, who is coached by Lindsay McKendrick, a former Rotorua Marathon winner, took a creditable third place.
Ady Ngawhati headed the women in the 4km run, but her sister, Leigh Ruddock, kept her in sight and was only 23s behind at the finish.
Denise Limby and Lucy Shand took the next two places, ahead of Hatea's first runner Judith Bradshaw in fifth place.
Thirteen year-old Tayla Going ran impressively to finish first in the 2km, in 8:07, well clear of Hatea's Lakeishea Cummings; while 13-year-old Ethan Carter had a strong run to take first in the boys and men's 2km.