College sports: Meet the golden girl of schools cross-country

By JENNI RUTHERFORD

Rebecca McEnaney, of Rangitoto College, ran her way into the record books with three wins from three starts in three years at the New Zealand cross-country championships in Christchurch on Saturday.

The 15-year-old won the junior girls' 3000m for the third consecutive time, an outstanding record that will take some beating.

McEnaney achieved her first title as a third former in 1998, repeated it in 1999 and produced the three-peat at the weekend as a fifth-former in her final year as a junior.

Her time of 11m 33s was five seconds clear of Wellington Girls' College's Kelly Holyoake.

Holyoake and team-mate Alice Mason applied the pressure with 800m left in the race, but McEnaney was determined to secure the win and make history.

Sacred Heart College's Dylan Mordaunt's win in the senior boys' 6000m race came down to cunning tactics and avoiding tree roots.

Circling wide at pace, Mordaunt did not just use his extremely fast feet to win the senior boys' title - his head was as much a part of it.

Mordaunt's decision to skirt the tree roots on a tight corner allowed him to continue at pace, while Hutt Valley High School's Nick Willis, who was leading at the time, chose the quick route, but slipped and fell.

This left Mordaunt in the clear to sprint to the finish and take the title.

Stephen Lett, of Mahurangi College, crossed the line four seconds later, with Willis 10s back.

Terenzo Bozzone, of Rangitoto College, continues to excel in running-based sports, taking second in the junior boys' 4000m.

Bozzone has proved to be a force in duathlon and multisport events and looks to have the talent in running as well after his 13m.08s finish, six seconds behind Wellington College's Matthew Prosser, on the Hagley Park course. Matthew Thompson, of St Kentigern College, was fourth with a time of 13m 25s.

SOCCER

The top three teams on the senior A premier league table have been found at the halfway stage of the competition.

Mt Albert Grammar School lead, one point clear of Westlake Boys' High School with Auckland Grammar School third after their upset loss to Westlake two weeks ago.

The shock loss may have fired them up on Saturday, as they clawed back from a 1-3 deficit against Mt Albert to salvage a 3-3 draw.

BADMINTON

A very close final against Carmel College nearly cost Westlake Girls' High their North Harbour title.

The final was won by No 1-ranked Karen Tam, of Carmel College, over Sheryl Cairney, of Westlake, who is ranked second.

But a win by Westlake's Kirsty Knight over Carmel's Karen Chow ensured Westlake kept their title and will represent North Harbour at the zone-one playoffs in Northland.

As expected, Rangitoto College were too strong for Takapuna Grammar in the boys' section.

Coming up this week.-

Today: Auckland: boys' hockey grades 1A/B, orienteering, rugby league semifinals, girls' soccer, squash team championships day two.

Counties Manukau: netball, boys' soccer.

North Harbour: boys' hockey grades 1 and 2.

Intercity boys' hockey.

Tomorrow: Auckland: girls' hockey grades 1A/B.

North Harbour: girls' hockey grades 1 and 2.

Intercity girls' hockey.

Friday: Auckland: squash, basketball, badminton. North Harbour: girls' hockey grades 3 and 4.

Saturday: NZ underwater hockey championships, Auckland. Auckland: netball, rugby, soccer.

Counties Manukau: rugby.

North Harbour: netball, rugby.

Waitakere: netball.

Sunday: NZ underwater hockey championships, Auckland, day two.

Auckland: cycling, sport climbing.

Monday: Auckland: girls' rugby, junior boys' squash.

North Harbour: boys' hockey grade 3.