Taonga Mbambo on his way to sixth place at the national secondary schools’ cross country championships. Photo suppliedAshburton’s Taonga Mbambo has been selected into the New Zealand secondary schools’ cross country team to travel to the Australian Championships.

Mbambo – a Year 13 student at Ashburton College – was selected after finishing sixth at the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Cross Country in Taupo at the weekend.

He ran a time of 19.50 minutes which was good enough to earn him selection to the team which will travel to Australia’s Sunshine Coast in August for the Australian Open and Schools Cross Country Championships.

Coached by Timaru’s Craig Motley, Mbambo’s weekly trips to Timaru have paid off and are reflected in his results.

Mbambo’s form in Taupo followed on from success at the Aoraki Secondary Schools’ Cross Country where he came first.

At the championships in Taupo he was a part of the Canterbury team which finished on the podium, winning a silver medal.

Earlier this year, at Ashburton College’s athletics finals day, Mbambo broke a record that had previously stood for 37 years. He broke the under-19 boys’ 3000m record. His new record time of 9.24.8 minutes, around six seconds faster than the previous record set by Bruce Gabites.

His win at the Aorakis in the same event was also a new Aoraki record time.

With his spot in the New Zealand team now secure, Mbambo was taking time off this week before getting back into full training next week in preparation for the Australian Championships.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 20 June 2018