It was the annual gathering for die-hard runners, and it couldn't have gone better for Gilgai organisers.
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After last year's COVID cancellation, the students' anticipation was high for the Zone competition, and the energy was astounding.
Nine schools came, with 236 kids nominated in four different age groups: eights/nines, 10s, 11s and 12/13s - with boy and girl divisions.
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Prayers were said to hold off the looming rain clouds until after 5pm, and they were answered.
Event organiser and zone coordinator Sue Willcocks said it was "just great".
"It's rotated around the small schools across the district, so it was our turn to run it," she said.
"I'd like to say thankyou to everyone who has helped in anyway, especially the PnC for their barbeque. Congrats to our kids, and thanks to the parents who've come along to support it."
Parents had been "very agreeable" with the sign-ins and COVID-safe rules, and it "was nice to be able to have a sporting event and have the parents attend again."
The winners for each section were as follows:
- 8/9 section: Boy's champion Hugo Barwick with runner-up Zander Bradbury, Girl's champion Snowden Green and runner-up Angel Austin.
- 10 years: Runner-up Bruno Harrison and champion Edmund Barton; Girl's winner Alice Wall and runner-up Lashayah Naylor.
- 11 years: Girl's champion Lateah Naylor and runner-up Abby Blackburn; Boy's winner Jai Allen and runner-up Maison Cory.
- 12/13: Boy's winner Thomas Putter and runner-up Nicholas Alliston; Girl's winner Sharkiah-Lee Dixon-Toomey and runner-up Ruby Turnbull.
It was also the first time run for a multi-cross competitor, with birthday girl Bella Griffin from Inverell Public School coming in first.
The six top-place getters will now be eligible to go to the North-West trials in Coolah on June 10.
If successful there, they earn the trip to state, held each year at Eastern Creek in Sydney.
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