Cross Country returns to Flinders

After an absence of two years Cross Country returned to Flinders University on Saturday morning for the fourth event on Athletics SA's 2022 Winter calendar. 

The event took place across a new 2km course, which stretched between two ovals on the University grounds.  

Starting in front of the changerooms on what was an outstanding morning for a Cross Country run, the participants of the Junior 2km and Senior 4km races set off on a lap of the lower ovals before making the long 500m uphill along the northern and eastern boundaries.

The venture into the tree section at the southern end was tight and testing before coming back up a short hill onto the main oval.

Athletes were looking to impress selectors ahead of the upcoming State Cross Country Championships (July 30 at Victoria Park) and 2022 Australian Cross Country Championships (to be held in Adelaide on August 27).

Find the results here

Mulholland and Toland take line honours in Senior 4km

Adelaide Harriers runner Cael Mulholland was the pre-race favourite to take out the U20 age group, as well as the overall race, and ran confidently at the front before pulling away for a 21-second victory ahead of Pembroke's Angus Haines.

Mulholland ran 12:05, while the Open Men's winner, Haines, finished with a time of 12:26. 

Haines and Flinders' Bailey Dyer had a tight finish for the second overall place, with Dyer clocking 12:37. 

Flinders' Tom Lancaster (12:31) edged out Harrier Cooper Giles (12:32) and Pembroke's Joe Cross (12:32) in another tight tussle for fourth place. 

The ever improving Zoe Toland (14:33) of Flinders won her first Athletics SA Winter event, beating Harriers' Annabel Kitto (14:42) and United Collegians' Tiana Cetta (14:53) after all three were running alongside eachother up the northern hill for the final time.

Cetta took out the Womens U18 race, while Saints' Deacon Gore (12:56) won a close battle with Flinders pair Torben Roberts (13:02) and Hudson Miles (13:15) in the Men's U18.

Plenty of athletes competed in the older categories, with SA Masters' Paul Mulholland (12:46) proving too strong for Flinders' Jordan Harvey (13:39) and Southern Shark Josh Smith (14:30) in the Men's O35.

Flinders' Colin Ambrose (14:12) took line honours in the O50s, ahead of John Wynn (14:36) and Stephen Trutwin (15:15).

Hills' Lisa Davis (15:54) was back in good form to win the Women’s O35 ahead of Harriers' Ciara Foster (16:22).

Gridley and Ebert take the 2km

The younger age groups competed over 2km, with Port Adelaide's Tessa Ebert (6:54) continuing her strong early Winter season form to win the Women's U16 race.

Ebert had another great battle with Flinders duo Hannah Tourneur (7:00) and Asha Lawson (7:04).

Ebert charged away on the fast flat section to win the U16s, while Tea Tree Gully's India Goodall (7:23) kept Flinders' Madison Brown (7:39) at bay in the Women's U14s.

In the U16 boys event Adelaide Harriers' Tyler Gridley (6:42) had a great battle with Port Adelaide's James McManus (6:44) to win the sprint finish.

Charlie Ellis (6:59) of the South Coast Athletics Club won the U14 race ahead of Hills Districts' Thomas George (7:10).

In the premierships, Flinders extended its lead in the Men’s and Women’s Open and O35&O50 as well as the Women’s U14&U16 premierships.

Southern's maintained its lead in the Men’s U14&U16 premiership, while Adelaide Harriers maintained its lead in the Women’s U18&U20 premiership.

The next Round of the Winter Premiership is the Cross Country 2 on July 16 at Botanic Park, which will be the last run ahead of the 2022 State Cross Country Championships on July 30.

Register for Cross Country 2 here

Register for State Cross Country Championships here

Athletics SA's Cross Country 2 event will be used as School Sport SA's the main selection trial for its 2022 Australian Cross Country Championships team. 

Athletics SA will also select a team for the 2022 Australian Cross Country Championships, with the main selection trial being the 2022 State Cross Country Championships at Victoria Park on Saturday, July 30. 

Find more information about the 2022 Australian Cross Country Championships here

Cross Country 1 Results:

Women (4km): 1. Zoe Toland (FLN) 13.51; 2. Annobel Kitto (AH) 14.34; 3. Tiana Cetta (UC) 15.58; 4. Jessica McManus (PA) 15.10; 5. Madeline Kelly (FLN) 15.24; 6. Lisa Davis (Hills) 15.54; 7. Ciara Foster (AH) 16.22; 8. Georgia Gosse (FLN) 16.33; 9. Stella Batelaan (UNA) 17.04; 10. Annalelle Ryan (UNA) 17.22.

Men (4km): 1. Cael Mullholland (AH) 12.05; 2. Angus Haines (PEM) 12.26; 3. Bailey Dyer (FLN) 12.27; 4. Tom Lancaster (FLN) 12.31; 5. Cooper Giles (AH) 12.32; 6. Joe Cross (PEM) 12.32; 7. Oakley Nilsen (FLN) 12.44; 8. Paul Mulholland (MAS) 12.46; 9. Max Spurling (Hills) 12.55; 10. Deacon Gore (Saints) 12.56.

Women (2km): 1. Tessa Ebert (PA) 6.54; 2. Hannah Tourneur (FLN) 7.00; 3. Asha Lawson (FLN) 7.04; 4. Chloe Richardson (AH) 7.21; 5. Mali Lovett (PA) 7.22.

Men (2km): 1. Tyler Gridley (AH) 6.42; 2. James McManus (PA) 6.44; 3. Charlie Ellis (SCA) 6.59; 4. Thomas George (Hills) 7.10; 5. Archie Braithwaite (Saints) 7.19.

Toby Schreier Cup: Flinders retain Cup with big turnout

Flinders scored well in all events giving them a another big win in the Toby Schreier Cup presented to the club which has good performances, depth and diversity –club with the most points scored across all events.

Final Scores:

1. Flinders 165; 2. Adelaide Harriers 67; 3. Port Adelaide 30; 4. Hills Districts 22; 5. Saints 21; 6. Pembroke 20; 7. Western Athletics, Southerns 11; 9. Masters, South Coast, Tea Tree Gully, United Collegians 10; 13. Northern Districts 9.