Isaiah Priddey and Bradley Cullen compete in Australian Cross Country Championships

The Australian Cross Country Championships were held at Stromlo forest park, Canberra, a purpose built cross country course for the Australian Institute of Sport.  The weather, however, was decidedly New Zealand in flavour, with a top temperature of 8 degrees and wind and rain as an extra.  The course was very tough with steep hill climbs and long straights into the wind.  The Australians have to qualify for their state to be there, so the field of  75 boys for the U18 Men is the best in the country, and this was seen with a very large lead group of 30 boys staying together until the last 2km of the race. Isaiah and most of the NZ team sat back in the front half of the lead bunch, and stayed there until the pace picked up over the last 2km.  Isaiah ran very well to place 7th, only 10 seconds off 2nd place, with Brad Cullen placing a very creditable 30th in an elite field of runners.  Isaiah was the second 16 year old in the race, with the opportunity to run in the U18 grade again next year.