Local Secondary School runners are set to converge upon Manawatu College and its challenging course for the annual Manawatu Inter Secondary School Cross Country on Wednesday, May 20.
The event, which saw two records broken last year, is likely to see more records under threat this year. Both of last years record setters, Olivia Burne of Palmerston North Girls High School and Stephanie Dickens of Feilding High School are likely to be in the field of competitors challenging for the individual titles.
From the teams perspective, Feilding High School made the podium in all six categories last year, but teams from both Palmerston North Boys High School and Palmerston North Girls High School will be early favourites to win their respective categories.
The challenging course covers a run along Manawatu College's school field, up Oxnams Hill, through an old timber yard, around a pine tree plantation and down the straight of the Foxton Race Course. It is expected to attract upwards of 300 athletes from 14 of the region's Secondary Schools. Spectators are most welcome to come along and support the athletes.