Taonga Mbambo. Photo supplied.Exciting Ashburton long-distance runner, Taonga Mbambo’s efforts over the past 12 months have earned the former Ashburton College student a spot in the national cross-country side.

Mbambo was named as part of the 21-strong squad to head to Aarhus in Denmark at the end of March to compete in the 2019 IAAF World Cross Country Championships as a member of the Junior Men side.

The championships are being described as unlike anything before, with competitors running across a wild and unique event on the grassy, sloping roof of the Moesgaard Museum and in the nature area around the spectacular building.

Mbambo’s selection comes hot on the heels of a huge 2018 calendar year, where he rose to the attention of everyone in the long-distance running world with some incredible results.

He started 2018 by felling a 37-year-old record at the Ashburton College athletics finals day – beating the previous record for the 3000m held by Bruce Gabites by six seconds.

He followed that up by breaking the record in the same event at the Aoraki Championships a few weeks later.

At the South Island Secondary School s’ Athletics Championships Mbambo was fourth in the under 19 men’s 3000m, finishing just seconds behind the winner in 9.01.39 minutes. He was also eighth in the 1500m.

At the Ashburton College school cross-country he was first to cross the finish line in the 4km senior boys’ race, in 12 minutes 47 seconds.

Mbambo was also part of the Ashburton College team that contested the Canterbury secondary schools’ road race in May.

The team was third overall, with Mbambo the fourth individual across the line.

His selection in the New Zealand secondary schools’ cross country team to travel to the Australian Championships followed his sixth place finish at the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Cross Country in Taupo where he ran a time of 19.50 minutes.

Add to that his effort for third in the New Zealand Cross Country Championships in the Under 18 division, his victory in the Under 18 Canterbury Road Race Championship and his effort to finish 12th in the Australasian Cross Country Championship and his selection this week should come as no surprise to anyone.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 30 January 2019