With the first four to count for the team trophy, things looked close when both Douglas Park and Opaki had three finishers each in the top 10. The team prize went to Douglas Park by a two-point margin.
The junior boys' race followed the same format, with two laps of the course. Oscar Southey from Opaki took the reins from the start, and finished the first lap several seconds ahead of the rest of the field. A slight detour at the turn led to the loss of a few metres but by the race's end Southey still held a winning margin of 6 seconds over Carterton's Jack Britland. Sam Loader, of Carterton, completed the first three home.
The team trophy competition was the closest on the day with Douglas Park and Carterton drawn on final points.
A countback on the fourth runner to finish meant Douglas Park again won the team award.
The senior students from year 7 and 8 also used the same course, but were required to complete three laps.
Here the girls' race turned very quickly into a battle for second and third place when Teagan Andrews-Paul (Masterton Intermediate) left behind the rest of the field on the first lap. Pelei Seilala-Malatai from Lakeview came second, 5 seconds ahead of Masterton Intermediate's Brittnay Wilson.
Only Carterton and Masterton Intermediate fielded enough runners to make up the required four-person team in this grade and it was Masterton Intermediate who claimed the team trophy for 2013.
The senior boys were the last to hear the starter's gun, again completing a 3km course. The first two laps saw a tight pack at the front with no one runner dominating. The last lap was where the moves were made when Mikael Starzynski (Masterton Intermediate) gained a 7 second advantage over his nearest rival. Matthew Heard (Greytown) and Cooper Jamieson (Kahutara) finished second and third respectively.
The senior boys team trophy, the Kaitere Harriers Shield, was first contested in 1943, and was won this year by Masterton Intermediate with Hadlow second and Carterton third.
Results:
Junior girls (2km): 1 Amy Wood (Kahutara) 8min 48s, 2 Tui Dugan (Douglas Park) 9.05, 3 Anna Bebbington (St Patrick's) 9.09. Teams: 1 Douglas Park 29pts, 2 Opaki 31, 3 Carterton 66.
Junior boys (2km): 1 Oscar Southey (Opaki) 8.35, 2 Jack Britland (Carterton) 8.41, 3 Sam Loader (Carterton) 8.45. Teams: 1 Douglas Park 24pts, 2 Carterton 24, 3 Opaki 80.
Senior girls (3km): 1 Teagan Andrews-Paul (Masterton Intermediate) 13.04, 2 Pelei Seilala-Malatai (Lakeview) 14.01, 3 Brittany Wilson (Masterton Intermediate) 14.06. Teams: 1 Masterton Intermediate 21pts, 2 Carterton 53.
Senior boys: 1 Mikael Starzynski (Masterton Intermediate) 12.03, 2 Matthew Heard (Greytown) 12.10, 3 Cooper Jamieson (Kahutara) 12.15. Teams: 1 Masterton Intermediate 19pts, 2 Hadlow 51, 3 Carterton 62.