Halswell Residential College Takes Top Two AWD ID Places at the National Secondary School Cross Country Champs

Halswell Residential College students Joshua Powley and Laura Montgomery won gold medals for being first boy and girl home in the AWD ID* section at the 40th NZSSAA Cross Country Championships at Halswell Quarry in Christchurch on Saturday.

Joshua Powley crossed the finish line with a time of 7 minutes 40 seconds, a full 1 minute and 10 seconds ahead of the second place getter, Josh Rosie from Kings High School. Laura Montgomery ran the 2000m in 12 minutes and was followed home by Emma Tull from Rangiora High 34 seconds later.

Halswell also took out 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th place in the boy’s 2000m race.

HRC Principal Janine Harrington says she is immensely proud of the students, as well as the staff and families who have supported the athletes in the lead up to the competition.

“Joshua was full of pride as he stood on the podium to get his gold medal. He said he has won “a small gold medal” before but never “one this big”.  The other boys in the team who ran were also really thrilled with their certificates and it was lovely to see how pleased they all were for Joshua congratulating him for his achievement,” she says.

Place Name                     Time   School

4th     Ethan Porter          10:51   Halswell Residential College
5th     Taiawhio Grimes   10:56   Halswell Residential College
6th     Ryan Tutbury        13:24   Halswell Residential College 
7th     Michael Atherton   14:01   Halswell Residential College

*Note: abbreviations are as follows
AWD  athletes with disabilities         ID  intellectual disabilities

ENDS