Photos by Fred Etter
Former local Aaron Spiessberger-Parker has claimed the 124th NSW cross country title, at Willandra, near Nowra on the NSW south coast.
The titles were held on what is widely regarded as Australia’s best cross country course, the immaculately curated, but hilly and technically challenging course on family farm of Rod and Jan Gibb. Saturday was the 30th occasion that it has hosted a NSW title, having also been the venue of the Australian Cross Country Championships in 1992, 1994 and 2009.
The men’s 10km race was one in four, with evergreen Ben St Lawrence, Joshua Johnson, Luke Hince and Spiessberger-Parker making the running from the early stages. In fact, it wasn’t until a strong move in the last kilometre that Speissberger-Parker broke away from St Lawrence for victory, denying the former Australian 10000m record his maiden NSW cross country title.
Speissberger-Parker, now Canberra-based but running for Bankstown Sports Athletics Club, won by six seconds in 31:56 from St Lawrence, with teenager Luke Hince third in 32:20. 
The women’s race saw Paige Campbell score a 15 second victory from South Africa’s Aynslee Van Graan in a time of 36:18. 21-year-old Jessica Noble took bronze in 37:02, holding off a fast finish from Irish 1500m champion, Niamh Allen, who was just two seconds behind.
The world junior bound duo of Laura Roderick and Patrick Cantlon took out the junior events, but in contrasting styles. 
Roderick overcame a wrong turn while in the lead that saw her fall 80 metres behind, to the 6km race by just a second from Shayne Hargreaves in 22:03. Sarah Schiffmann was third in 22:34. Roderick will run the 5000m at the World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia in August. 
Cantlon was in control of his race, surging away from the lead pack that included Cameron Gorman and Bailey Habler with two kilometres of the 8km race remaining, claiming a 13 second victory in 26:06. Gorman took silver, while Logan Campbell finished strongly to claim bronze in 26:45. Cantlon has been selected to run the 1500m and 3000m at the World U20 Championships.
Photo Gallery
A collection of over 750 photos from the event are available courtesy of Fred Etter.
Free high resolution downloads when you subscribe to our mailing list. 
Need spikes?
From $9.99 with fast & free delivery Australia-wide.
Latest posts:
- From Tokyo Turmoil to Hobart Reset: Matt Denny Sets the Tone on the Hill
Six months ago, Matt Denny was sliding across a drenched throwing circle in Tokyo, part of one of the most chaotic finals in World Championships history. At the World Athletics Championships, torrential rain turned the discus ring into a dangerous spectacle. Athletes swapped shoes, taped feet, even threw in socks. Half the attempts were fouls.… Read more: From Tokyo Turmoil to Hobart Reset: Matt Denny Sets the Tone on the Hill - Australian Top Lists
Check out the top 8 performances by Australian athletes in the lead up to Commonwealth Games selection. With Top Lists back in vogue in the selection policy for Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games and for Oceania Championships selection (compared to prior years for World Athletics events where World Rankings ruled), here’s the performances that selectors will be… Read more: Australian Top Lists - Commonwealth Games Qualifiers
Here’s the athletes that have achieved the tough qualifying standards for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. With a hard cap of 63 open athletes for the Australian team, most selections will be discretionary. The only automatic pathway to selection is achieving the qualifying standard before, or while, winning the Australian Championship in April. Here’s… Read more: Commonwealth Games Qualifiers - Morgan McDonald is back where he feels most alive: in the mud, in the mix, and with Mick Byrne again
Morgan McDonald doesn’t talk about cross country like it’s a side quest. He talks about it like it’s the original language of distance running: simple, chaotic, brutally honest, and somehow, the most fun you can have while “fighting for your life” through a mud pit. Fresh off the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, McDonald… Read more: Morgan McDonald is back where he feels most alive: in the mud, in the mix, and with Mick Byrne again - “Waking Up From a Good Dream”: Cooper Sherman’s 44.85 and the Ballarat surge
Cooper Sherman still sounds mildly surprised when he says it out loud. Not because he didn’t believe he could do it, but because breaking 45 seconds carries a particular weight in Australian 400m running. It’s a barrier that separates “very good” from “this is going somewhere”. Cover photo by Michael Hall for Inside Athletics On… Read more: “Waking Up From a Good Dream”: Cooper Sherman’s 44.85 and the Ballarat surge
