Students poured onto the Beerwah Sports Grounds not once but three times on Tuesday for the Annual GCCC Cross Country. They all came a little bit nervous and a little bit excited but they were all keen to earn valuable house points. This proved very true throughout the day as the final score indicated.

The students competed for individual placings but were also running for their house with the first four finishers of each house counting towards the teams’ race for houses. Ten points could be earned by winning the teams’ race competition. There were also lucky spot prizes for two finishers in each race. Students also gained selection into the GCCC teams to compete at District Cross Country Championships coming up soon.

The Middle School students began the day of competition running three or four kilometres around the Beerwah Sports Grounds, nearby stream and parklands. Some races were closely fought and others were led by the winner right from the gun.  Brooke Hughes, Natasha Hoeksema and Jack Fissenden all won by at least a minute but Jaylah Daunt and Chloe Dunford and Bakani Kombani and Patrick McKenzie fought close battles throughout their races.

The Senior School followed with the Year 12 students savouring their final cross country race ever for many of them! The students enjoyed running alongside many staff members who also took up the challenge to run the cross country. There was some great running but also much socialising along the way and everyone enjoyed the experience. Jacqueline Roach showed that training surely pays off by winning the 15 years girls’ race in the fastest 4km time for the girls. Cameron Shervey and Bailey Townsend battled it out in the 15 year boys’ race with Cameron winning by just six seconds with the fastest boys’ 4km time of the day.

Finally, the Primary students arrived with the nine year olds quite nervous about running their first serious cross country race. After running many laps of the oval during the Lapathon Challenge these students were ready to race. They were fit and determined.

This was proved when the 11 year old boys took to the course. It was a very tactical race with Sam Townson, Jacob Broderick and Declan Martin battling it out throughout the race. Sam and Declan ran stride for stride until part way through the second lap. Sam moved to the front and ran strongly to finish first with Jake second and Declan third. These boys ran the fastest 3km times of the day beating all the 12 and 13 year old times.  Aaron van Palen and Bryce Sambrook had the closest Primary race with only eight seconds separating them with Aaron gaining the victory for Sinai. Amy Trevan and Cassidy Ferris both led from start to finish in their races.

Zion won all but one team’s race in the Primary school helping Zion emerge as points winners in Primary. When the final competition points were tallied from all the day’s competitions the unbelievable had happened. Zion and Sinai were exactly tied on points with Ararat in third. Every single point certainly made a difference in this competition.  After all the war cry and cheering points were added to the competition points Ararat emerged as the Cross Country Champions on 395 points followed by  Zion on 349 points and Sinai on 349 points.  But wait – there’s more! The Junior Cross Country is yet to be run so points will be finalised after this event on the 9 May.

Once again the support from parents and families was fantastic. We are proud of the students’ performances and effort throughout the whole field – whether winning or just completing the race. Every point really does count!

Age	First	Second	Third	Team Winner
9 year girls	Amy Trevan	Ella Childs	Lilli-Jean Cruise	Zion
9 year boys	Aaron van Palen	Bryce Sambrook	Tyler Reeves	Sinai
10 year girls	Cassidy Ferris	Genevieve Kratzmann	Molly McCaughey	Zion
10 year boys	Daemon Cruise	Mason White	Ethan Palmer	Zion
11 year girls	Emily Roach	Amity Roser	Isabel Holley	Zion
11 year boys	Samuel Townson	Jacob Broderick	Declan Martin	Zion
12 year girls	Jaylah Daunt	Chloe Dunford	Maya Amendolia	Sinai
12 year boys	Bakani Kombani	Patrick McKenzie	Lachlan McWilliam	Sinai
13 year girls	Brooke Hughes	Codie Rechberger	Savannah Malan	Sinai
13 year boys	Harrison Still	Dylan Myers	Aaron Lerch	Ararat
14 yr Girls	Natasha Hoeksema	Tenaia Owens	Claire Cornel	Zion
14 year boys	Jack Fissenden	Roarke Carter	Toby Glover	Ararat
15 year girls	Jacqueline Roach	Nicola Bates	Anna Graham	Ararat
15 year boys	Cameron Shervey	Bailey Townend	Lucas Tidy	Zion
16 year girls	Andie Little	Ella Mickleson	Talia Rosa-Denham	Sinai
16 year boys	Jaiden Andrews	Flynn Mitchell	Jake Hoeksema	Zion
Open Girls	Abbey Bates	Louise Munyard	Courtney Sinclair	Ararat
Open Boys	Aaron Giles	Isaac Cornel	Stephen Greasley	Ararat

Wendy Stott

For photos of each event please click on the following links:

Primary Cross Country Photos

Middle School Cross Country Photos

Senior School Cross Country Photos