110th NSW Short Course XC Championships – Thrilling wins for Bishop and Spencer

22 June 2025

110th NSW Short Course XC Championships – Thrilling wins for Bishop and Spencer

Glorious conditions at Dapto greeted the nearly 700 athletes competing at the 110th NSW Short Course Cross Country Championships. Over the shorter distance, on the flat technical course, there was some thrilling racing for the open titles. It was a very successful day for Ben Liddy who coached both the men’s and women’s champions.

OPEN MEN

The 2025 title was an open race with a number of athletes taking strong credentials into the race. After Sydney University’s James Tierney took up the early pace, Logan Campbell, who was recently 4th at the Asian Triathlon Cup in Osaka, took control of the race. After a mile he had a clear 10 metres on a large pack. He continued to extend that lead and was 25 metres ahead of a chase pace of seven athletes by the 5km mark.

But could Logan hold on?

With 3km to go, Ben Bishop, who had finished one place ahead of Logan at the State XC in Nowra, was getting worried about the growing gap.

“I was just sitting in there trying to stay relaxed on the first lap,” recalled Ben. “I knew Logan is a quality runner, so I thought I'm going, I've got to go. I can't let him get too far ahead or else he's going to take it.

“I made a move with about 2k to go and Ben Graham came with me. And we caught him (Logan) with about a k to go. I then sat in with him for a bit and then I went because I was feeling pretty strong. Ben Graham came with me and stayed with me to about 300 metres to go. Up that final short hill and I just gave it everything and just held him off in the last straight.”

Ben Bishop won by just two seconds, in 23:13 minutes from Ben Graham with 23:15, while Logan Campbell was third, running 23:27. Ben’s winning time was 36 seconds faster than the 2024 winners’ time.

“I know I'm currently in the best shape of my life by far. I think I ran a minute faster than I ran here last year.”

The win really meant a lot to Ben.

“It feels incredible, honestly. Looking at the start list and how I've been running this season, I knew I was a chance. I still knew there was a lot of good runners I had to beat today. So, yeah, very happy about it.”

Sydney University dominated the team competition, taking gold and silver. The A team, with four in the top-7 tallied just 16 points, from their B team with 61 and Randwick Botany 3rd on 94. The A team comprised Ben Bishop, Ben Graham, Drew Fryer and Joe Burgess. 

RESULTS: 1 Ben Bishop SYU 23:13, 2 Ben Graham SYU 23:15, 3 Logan Campbell UNSW 123:27, Rylan Semenas ACT 23:36, 5 Ethan McKenzie UTN 23:42, 6 Drew Fryer SYU 23:50, 7 Joe Burgess 24:00, 8 Harm Schaap BAN 24:01, 9 Sebastian Havens SYU 24:03, 10 Oliver Ham GOS 24:06, 11 Lachlan Townsend SYU 24:12

OPEN WOMEN

On paper, the women’s race was set to be another close battle. Defending champion Jaylah Hancock-Cameron, just back from a track tour in the US, would undoubtedly be pressed by 2-time State XC champion Kate Spencer; 2024 NSW Distance Runner of the Year Danette Sheehan, who was 6th last week in the Australian Half Marathon championships, and Canberra’s Zoe Melhuish, who was 3rd in the Sydney 10.

By 2km the four favourites, led by Kate Spencer, had broken away from field, by 3.5km they were 50m ahead. Another kilometre into the race and Kate Spencer was looking smooth and in charge.

But deep into the last lap, with about 2km to go, Kate Spencer found herself in the lead, without really making a move.

“I didn't feel like I put that much more effort in, but managed to pull away. I felt like I was just kind of keeping the same pace and they just slowly dropped off the back,” said Kate.

By the final hill, Kate had built up a clear lead over Jaylah. Kate won in 26:13 from Jaylah with 26:23. Jaylah can be well satisfied with her run, as she was nine seconds faster than last year. Run Crew’s Danette Sheehan, who is preparing for the Sydney Marathon, was not far back in third with 26:48, 15 seconds faster than last year. ACT’s Zoe Melhuish was fourth with 27:24.

Kate, who is now aged 30, won this title back in 2016, has been in terrific form in recent years. A teenage sensation in the steeplechase, she represented Australia in the 5000m at the 2014 World U20 Championships. Running lots of track and cross country in her 20s, over the last three years she has been very successful on the roads, with podium finishes in the 10km road events at Burnie and Launceston. Last year she won the NSW Cross Country championship but missed the opportunity to defend her title last month in Nowra, as she was overseas visiting a sibling.

“It's been going well,” said Kate. “I'm just doing it because I enjoy it, and every win is a bonus. I'm a lot more consistent in my training and with a lot less injuries.”

How many kilometres is she running each week?

“At the moment, not a whole lot, maybe like 70.”

Next goal for Kate?

“I'd like to do National Cross this year. I haven't done National Cross for a few years. We'll see how the summer goes. I've had Achilles problems in the past wearing spikes, that's why I haven't really been running too many track races. But we'll see how it goes. It's feeling a lot better.”

It was a close battle in the team race, with Bankstown taking the win with 28 points to Sydney Uni’s 34. The Bankstown team comprised Jaylah Hancock-Cameron, Shayne Hargraves, Ruby McPhillips and Ash Gardiner.

RESULTS 1 Kate Spencer UTN 26:13, 2 Jaylah Hancock-Cameron BAN 26:23, 3 Danette Sheehan RCR 26:48, 4 Zoe Melhuish ACT 27:24, 5 Abigail Gilbert SYU 27:56, 6 Sophie Chudley RCR 27:57, 7 Shayne Hargraves BAN 28:06, 8 Audrey Amiyah SYU 28:42, 9 Alma Robb UTN 29:03, 10 Ruby McPhillips BAN 29:11, 11 Kristen Cook SYU 29:18, 12 Ash Gardiner BAN 29:23

The event was another highly successful day due to a lot of leadup and on the day work by host club Kembla Joggers. There large team, led by Dave Higgins and Neil Barnett, prepared the venue, laid out the course, ran the canteen and maintained the facility during the day. The purpose-built cross-country venue is well maintained year round by the club who have enormous pride in their facility. They are always looking to improve the course with more infrastructure planned in the future.

A big supporter of the Kembla Joggers club is former secretary and current acting Premier of NSW Ryan Park, who dropped in on the day to see how the event was progressing and present some medals. He was joined by another supporter of the club, Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: men’s winner Ben Bishop narrowly leads Ben Graham up the final hill (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)