College sport: Rookie outruns favourites

By JENNI RUTHERFORD

A bare-footed farmer's son from Okoroire, near Tirau, emerged as a surprise winner at the recent Waikato and Bay of Plenty secondary schools cross-country championships.

Matamata College rookie Mark McGlashan upset his more fancied, more experienced opposition to win the senior boys 6000m at Taupo's Spa Park.

McGlashan, who trains on his parents' dairy farm, has continued to surprise after winning the Thames Valley secondary schools cross-country last month.

The 17-year-old ran a tactical race against his nationally acclaimed opposition, tucking behind Clive Cooper of St Peter's School, Cambridge, and Tauranga Boys College's Bradley Barron.

He ran down Cooper in the last 900m to win by four seconds. Barron finished third.

The race was an ideal warm-up for the New Zealand secondary schools cross-country championships in Blenheim on Saturday.

The senior girls' 4000m was a two-runner race.

Rowan Baird, from Hamilton's Sacred Heart Girls College, showed early signs of recovery from the shin splints she suffered last season by winning nine seconds ahead of Matamata College's Rebecca Forlong.

Daniel Moses, from Tauranga's Bethlehem College, was too strong for Morrinsville College's Darren Smith in the intermediate boys race and Hillcrest High School's Patricia Ross won the intermediate girls 400m race comfortably.

Katikati College's Brenton Deane was three seconds clear of Adam Garner of Tauranga Boys to win the junior boys race and Rachel Kingford of Matamata College held out Kate Hartley of Trident High School, Whakatane, by the narrowest of margins to win the junior girls 3000m race.

NETBALL

The final of the Waikato secondary schools premier A competition will be a repeat of last year after Te Awamutu College and Hillcrest High School won their semifinal matches.

It will be a chance for Te Awamutu, 43-29 winners over Hamilton's Sacred Heart in their semifinal, to retain their title.

Hillcrest, who boast New Zealand secondary school representative Laura Langman, thrashed Church College 76-17 to advance.

DUATHLON

Auckland Grammar's Todd Calkin and Elizabeth Orchard of Epsom Girls won their respective senior boys and girls sections of the Auckland secondary schools championships at Ardmore in trying conditions.

World triathlon championships-bound Anna Elvery of Diocesan won the intermediate girls race.

Rangitoto College's Dino Bozzone added the intermediate boys title to the junior one he won last year.

Mathew Mildenhall (Auckland Grammar) and Rebecca Spence of Takapuna Grammar were crowned the junior champions.

This week:

* Today: Northland: Northland College sports day, soccer, rugby league. Bay of Plenty: senior indoor rock climbing.

East Coast: junior soccer and hockey tournament.

* Tomorrow: Thames Valley: Bolton Cup netball.

* Saturday:

New Zealand secondary schools cross country championships, Blenheim.

Northland: fencing, rugby.

Waikato: rugby, soccer.

* Sunday:

Northland: Northland secondary schools duathlon championships.

* Monday:

Waikato: premier netball final.