Surprise cross-country winner not surprised

Feilding's Mathew Waghorn was the surprise winner of the under-19 Oceania cross country title on Saturday, but he was always thought he had a chance.

The 6.7km Dunedin course provided some challenges for the 16-year-old, but he timed his run perfectly on the fifth and final lap to power home.

"I'm not surprised, but I was glad to win," he said yesterday.

"I was hoping for a podium, but the win just happened and I'm not complaining at all."

It was the start of a good weekend for the Feilding High School year-13 student, who finished second in the open men's race on the short course yesterday to former Manawatu rider Mark Leishman.

Waghorn gained automatic selection to the New Zealand world championships team for Canada in August after Saturday's effort and will compete in the under-19 cross country race.

Palmerston North's Fiona MacDermid finished third in the elite women's cross country race on Saturday which was won by former Manawatu rider Nic Leary.

Leishman showed he still has plenty to offer the sport and won the over-30s masters category on Saturday.

Cross Country – Under-19 men: 1 Mathew Waghorn (NZ) 1:48:10; 2 Mitchell Codner (Aus) +1:07; 3 Trenton Day (Aus) +2:10.

Under-19 women: 1 Alexa Peters (NZ) 1:29:05.

Elite – Under-23 men: 1 Daniel McConnell (Aus) 2:02:29; 2 Lachlan Norris (Aus) same time; 3 Mike Northcott (NZ) +3:42; 4 Paul van der Ploeg (Aus) +4:51; 5 Adrian Jackson (Aus) +6:38

Elite – Under-23 women: 1 Nic Leary (NZ) 1:38:23; 2 Rowena Fry (Aus) +1:20; 3 Fiona MacDermid (NZ) +1:22; 4 Heather Logie (Aus) +1:30; 5 Rebecca Henderson (Aus) +4:25.

- © Fairfax NZ News