Taonga Mbambo won the under-18 section of the Canterbury Road Race Championships at the weekend. Photo supplied.The good news just keeps on coming for Taonga Mbambo.

The Year 13 Ashburton College student took part in the Canterbury Road Race Championships in Christchurch at the weekend and crossed the finish line in first place in the under-18 men’s section.

Just a week out from a big trip to Australia where he’ll compete at the Australian Open and Schools’ Cross Country Championships on the Sunshine Coast, in Queensland, it’s a win that couldn’t have come at a better time.

Mbambo leaves this week for Australia, where the championships will take place from August 25-27.

He’s been busy preparing for the trip under the tutelage of Timaru’s Craig Motley, who has had him on a weekly schedule and given him motivation and encouragement which Mbambo said had been invaluable.

Mbambo said the Australian trip would not have been possible without the help and support he’d received from the Ashburton community.

A number of organisations had supported him financially, including the St. David’s and Hinds churches, the Ashburton Lions Club, Sir Richard Hadlee Sports Trust, the Rotary Club Trust of Ashburton and the Rotary Club of Ashburton Plains, along with many individuals.

Mbambo wasn’t the only Ashburton runner in action at the Canterbury Road Race Championships, with fellow Ashburton College student Matthew Clough finishing seventh in the open men’s race.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 21 August 2018