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Reflecting on New Zealand’s World XC Trial
By Daniel Wallis
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New Zealand will send 8 (potentially 9) athletes to the World Cross Country Championships in Poland this year. Four Senior Men, one Senior Woman, and three Junior Women - with Aaron Pulford subject to availability in the Junior Men’s event.
New Zealand will send 8 (potentially 9) athletes to the World Cross Country Championships in Poland this year. Four Senior Men, one Senior Woman, and three Junior Women - with Aaron Pulford subject to availability in the Junior Men’s event.
Senior Men:
The Men’s race was always going to be the most anticipated of the trial, with the largest field and the most on the line in terms of selection. The two athletes already selected or pre-selected in the field (Andrew Davidson & Kim Hogarth) needed to only finish in the Top 6 to assure themselves of selection, while Rowan Hooper needed to essentially finish ahead of all but these two athletes. In terms of the selection policy, that was all that was required. Therefore, ANZ was not subject to select any other athlete – rather the trial seemed to be an event to see if any non-selected athlete was in top form and could put his hand up for selection.
Results:
1. Shaun Krawitz
2. Kim Hogarth
3. Kris Gemmel
4. Andrew Davidson
5. Stefan Smith
6. Martin Van Barneveld
7. Rowan Hooper
8. Stephen Day
In placing in the Top 6 – Hogarth and Davidson assured their spots to Poland. However, all other selections would remain subjective. Krawitz was a deserved winner in the men’s race, and was rewarded with selection into the team. Although only finishing in 8th place (7th kiwi) at the NZXC, his recent form is undeniable and he is well deserving of his selection in what was a truly dominating performance.
Kris Gemmel is unavailable to run at WXC, while Rowan Hooper was unable to capitalise on his selection lifeline in what was a disappointing performance for him. The selectors were seemingly left with one ‘on the cuff’ decision to make, and that was regarding Stefan Smith.
The young Wellingtonian was the 10th kiwi in the NZXC championships, and was third at both the North & South Island championships, making him arguably one of the most consistent performers on the domestic scene last year. Knowing he was always going to be right on either side of the line for selection, Smith and his coach put everything towards the Trial race, hoping that an impressive performance would convince the selectors that he is World-Cross Country material. Smith consequently had a great race; finishing a mere three-seconds behind the National Champion and well ahead of Rowan Hooper. However, his hopes of selection were brought to an abrupt end a couple of days after the trial, when ANZ announced the Senior Men’s team. Four will be sent to Poland, with US-based Edwin Henshaw selected based on his performances in the States so far this season.
Four is the minimum to count in Poland, and one would think that having a proven cross-country runner finish only three seconds behind 4th place and the National Champion would be enough for selection - apparently not for Athletics New Zealand. It must be said though that it is not surprising that given the opportunity to select or not select someone right on the cut-off; ANZ chooses the latter in what is a completely self-funded trip. This greatly reduces the chances of New Zealand turning in a respectable team score, as the four selected have essentially no room for a bad day. If one athlete is out, the whole team is out. The Australians get this, apparently New Zealand doesn’t.
Senior Women:
The sole representative for the women at WXC will be Rachel Kingsford of Otago. Kingsford finished 2nd at the trial behind winner and former World Mountain Running Champion turned steeple-chaser turned tri-athlete Kate McIlroy, who is unavailable for selection.
The women’s race did however have two pre-selected athletes miss out on selection. Kellie Palmer of Canterbury was 3rd (2nd kiwi) at the National Championships, which meant she had been pre-selected for Poland. However, despite meeting the selection policy criteria of Top 6 in the trial, she was not selected. The other pre-selected athlete Sara Biss was unfortunately a DNF in the trial.
Junior Men:
This was essentially a non-event with only two competitors. Only Aaron Pulford has been selected, who was a clear winner at the National Championships in August, while also hitting the qualifying time over 10000m in his second place finish the National Championships where he recorded 30.01 – eclipsing the standard by 29 seconds. His selection is still pending on availability, as his focus appears to be on the World Junior Athletics Championships.
Junior Women:
The top three women from the trial; Danielle Trevis, Olivia Burne, and Nicki McFadzien will all travel to Poland. Trevis and Burne had already been pre-selected, while Nicki McFadzien – who did not compete in the National Championships but was 36th in Jordan last year, was selected after her third place finish at the trial.
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So as long as these 8 athletes can acquire the $8000 Athletics New Zealand has estimated for the trip to Poland, we will hopefully see some distinguished performances by the New Zealand team, that in turn may convince the selectors to potentially send more athletes next year before the World Cross Country becomes a bi-yearly event.
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