On the eve of the Newington Cross Country Invitational, where hundreds of Sydney runners will compete for selection to the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) championships, Cross Country Captain Kiran A (who on average clocks up 70 kilometres a week) explains his love of running.

According to Athletics Australia, more than three million Australians participate in recreational running. Year 12 student Kiran A is one of them. But it wasn’t until he got injured on the footy field that Kiran cultivated a passion for running.

‘From a young age, I always did well at school cross country and athletics carnivals however I didn’t start running regularly until I got injured playing AFL when I was 16 and started as a way to keep up my fitness,’ says Kiran, who last year represented the College at AAGPS and NSW CIS, and for NSW at the Australian Athletics Cross Country Championships.

‘I found that I really enjoyed running and my friends encouraged me to join the Cross Country and Athletics teams. Funnily, I first discovered I was good at running in my first race, where I surprised everyone, and ran some competitive times.’

Kiran’s ‘runner’s high’ (a feeling of euphoria derived from the exertion of running) comes through the challenge of competing and beating those personal bests.

‘I really enjoy the unique challenges that come with cross country,’ he says.

‘It has a significant mental component as you are required to challenge your body to its limits for extended periods of time, and in any weather. Through my running, I have learnt to be more disciplined in my everyday life. Cross country is a fantastic opportunity to see personal and physical growth throughout a season.’

This is also true for the 40 other runners in the squad at Newington, says Cross Country Coordinator and Geography teacher, Ms Chelsey Fowler.

‘Each student has come into the squad with their own goal in mind – whether that is to make the nationals like Kiran or to run a certain distance in a certain time,’ says Ms Fowler, who also runs marathons and half-marathons in her spare time.

‘Others find cross country because they don’t have a love for team sports and cross country is a safe welcoming space to get to know other students at your own pace. Our community is extremely positive and while we certainly have some very competitive runners, you don’t just have to be a very fast athlete to be a part of our sport, which we are committed to growing at Newington.’

During the season which runs from April to September, Newington cross country runners train twice weekly. Each weekend they compete in unisex age group races, including this Saturday as Newington hosts its Invitational meet.

Approximately 200 girl and boy runners from AAGPS, Combined Associated Schools (CAS), and Independent Girls’ Schools Association (IGSA) will take to the track at Botany in races that are then scored according to individual schools.

The juniors (Years 7 and 8) run a four kilometre track; the intermediates (Years 8 and 9) churn out six kilometres and the seniors eight kilometres. Selections for the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) on 25 June at Horsley Place will be taken from the first 15 finishers from each age group, says Ms Fowler.

‘Saturday’s race is important. Whether the runner is from a GPS, CAS or IGSA school, all will be competing for selection to the CIS championship. Boys and girls routinely compete in the same age groups and will this Saturday for our Newington Invitational and CIS selection; however, they compete in separate races at the CIS championships next month.

‘With girls arriving in the senior years at Newington soon, we are very excited because cross country is a program girls can quickly move into here, and it’s a really welcoming positive space for all students,’ she says.

Hoping for a top three team finish as he strives to make the nationals again, and to one day run for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAAs) in the US, Kiran agrees. His former teammate and 2025 Captain of Cross Country and Athletics Harry Halleen (ON 2025) was recently selected to compete for Australia at the World Athletics U20 Championships in the USA in August.

‘A super unique aspect of cross country is that the entire Newington squad train together as a group, doing the same sessions,’ he says.

‘The camaraderie we build through races and training sessions really brings runners from all the different years together and builds and strengthens friendships.’

Did you know?

• Newington students compete in a range of winter sports including AFL, athletics, cross country, fencing, football, New Fit, rifle shooting, rugby, snowsports, tennis and volleyball.
• Our students choose from more than 50 sporting and co-curricular activities.
• Newington is the only GPS school in NSW to field a 1st and 2nds team in six GPS sports, including rifle shooting.

---