McNeill and Brichacek back to being the best Cross Country runners in Australia.

13 years since he last competed in the National Cross Country Championships, Victorian Dave McNeill has taken home the 2019 Australian Title at Kembla Grange Joggers Club (he last competed back in 2006 in Hobart)

Open Men - Australian Cross Country Championships (1x2km + 2x4km)

1. Dave McNeill: 30.21 - VIC

2. Andy Buchanan: 30.29 - VIC

3. Ed Goddard : 30.31- NSW

“I’m thrilled, it’s a nice little slice of redemption after the last couple of years,” said McNeill.

“I asked Nic (Bideau) for some advice during the week, and he said to just keep Andy (Buchanan) in your sights and you might be able to get over him if you’re there at the finish,”

“But the plan had always been to wait until 2km at the earliest, and that’s where I threw in a bit of a move and it was lucky enough to get me the win.”

Talking about Ed Goddard who finished in third, McNeill compared his growth to that of Stewart McSweyn.

“The situation with Ed is very similar to me and Stewy (McSweyn), like Stewy did to me, I can see Ed just going straight passed me very soon.”

The Victorian’s with Dave McNeill were Andy Buchanan, Jack Davies and Andre Waring who were the winning team in the Open men’s race.

The women’s race was taken out by cross country veteran Emily Brichacek, who won her second Open National title (having won previously in Canberra in 2011).

Open Women - Australian Cross Country Championships (1x2km + 2x4km).

1. Emily Brichacek: 35.42 - NSW

2. Rose Davies: 35.48 - NSW

3. Kiah Fry: 35.52 - VIC

“I’ve been lucky enough to win a couple as a junior and now a couple in the Open,”

“I just love cross country, it’s great to be back here,”  

Talking about the strong field in the 2019 Championship, Emily said:

“It’s so fantastic to see the younger girls coming through, I raced Rose (Davies) in Burnie and she ran a great PB there, so to come up against her again is great,”

New South Wales took home the honours in the team event with Emily Brichacek, Rose Davies, Belinda Martin and Jenny Blundell collecting the points.  

Over 1100 athletes competed in the Championships held in 2019 at Kembla Joggers Club, Wollongong, all results from the day can be found here.

U14 Boys - Australian Cross Country Championships (1x3km)

1. Isaac Bennett: 9.35 - QLD

2. Noah Chlanda: 9.35 - SA

3. Luca Gillard: 9.40 – NSW

U14 Girls - Australian Cross Country Championships (1x3km)

1. Ella Wilson: 10:11 - QLD

2. Georgie Gilroy: 10:13 - QLD

3. Gabrielle Schmidt: 10:28 - QLD

U16 Boys  - Australian Cross Country Championships (2x2km)

1. Lachlan Cornelius: 12.34 - QLD

2. Flynn Pumpa: 12.34 - QLD

3. Jhye Hadfield: 12.36 - VIC

U16 Girls - Australian Cross Country Championships (2x2km)

1. Isabella Harte: 13.55 - QLD

2. Lucinda Rourke: 13.58 - VIC

3. Bridget Morrissey: 14.07 – QLD

U18 Boys - Australian Cross Country Championships (2x3km)

1. Sam Clifford: 18.12 - Tas

2. Thomas Jude: 18.26 - QLD

3. Ky Robinson: 18.29 - QLD

U18 Girls - Australian Cross Country Championships (2x2km)

1. Jaylah Hancock-Cameron: 14.02 - NSW

2. Nikita Moore: 14.06 - QLD

3. Joanna Wilson: 14:11 – QLD

U20 Boys - Australian Cross Country Championships (1x2km + 2x3km)

1.  Isaac Heyne: 24.57 - SA

2. Chekole Getenet: 25.07- VIC

3. Matthew Rankin: 25.54 – QLD

U20 Girls  - Australian Cross Country Championships (1x2km + 2x3km)

    1. Kirstie Ray: 21.24 - NZ

    2. Jamie Hiscock: 21.29 - QLD (Australian Champion)

    3. Juliet McBurney: 21.29 - VIC

    4. Abbey Rockliff: 21.37- NSW

    5. Abbey Caldwell: 21.51 - VIC