Australian XC: Bronte Oates dominates as NSW win 20 team medals
Published Sat 23 Aug 2025
23 August 2025
Australian XC: Bronte Oates dominates as NSW win 20 team medals
In very brisk conditions in Ballarat today, UTS Norths athlete Bronte Oates totally dominated the open women’s 10km cross country championships of Australia, while NSW were very strong across the ages, winning a medal in 20 of the 22 team competitions.
On her 21st birthday, Bronte Oates arrived in Ballarat as one of the favourites for the open women’s title, along with last years’ runner up Ruby Smee and 2022 champion Georgia Hansen. Bronte’s leadup form was brilliant, the NSW XC champion, first in the City to Surf and fifth in the 10,000m at the World University Games.
Bronte’s lead-up influenced her race strategy.
“I knew I was in good form, so I felt reasonably confident,” she said. “My plan was to lead from the beginning of the race and try to stretch out the field.”
This is exactly how the race panned out. Nearly from the gun, Bronte made a break on a pack comprising Smee, Hansen and NSW dual Olympian Jenny Blundell. Over the course of the race, the positions of the pack moved around, but by mid-race Blundell and Hansen have moved to a clear battle for the silver and bronze medals.
Between two and nine kilometres Bronte Oates gradually improved her lead to about 80 metres.
“I was feeling confident, but I still knew I had good competition behind me and there was still time for them to make moves,” reflected Bronte. “With a km to go, I knew I had it, so I relaxed a little.”
And over the last 1000m Bronte really accelerated, extending her lead and hitting the line 20 seconds, or about 100 metres, clear of Blundell. Also, over the last kilometres, Blundell had put more distance between her and Hansen, reaching a margin of 26 seconds by the finish tape. They clocked times of: Bronte Oates 34:44, Jenny Blundell 35:04 and Georgia Hansen 35:30.
“I’m really excited to have a national title,” said Oates. “It gives me some extra confidence going into World trials in November.”
It was a strong race for NSW with Kate Spencer 7th in 36:19 and Jaylah Hancock-Cameron 8th in 36:42. With four in the top-8 NSW comfortably claimed the teams title with 16 points, from Victoria on 22 points and Queensland with 40.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
NSW teams
They were brilliant across the age divisions with the blues placing in 20 of the 22 team competitions. They won seven of the 22 teams events.
U14 boys
NSW claimed what must be a record, dominating the under-14 boys 3km event. The filled the first six places and no surprise won the team event. The NSW top-6 were:
1st Nathaniel Barrett 9:52
2nd Matthew Faulkner 9:56
3rd Isaac Robinson 9:59
4th Carter Bergan 10:00
5th Mack Oxley 10:03
6th Lachlan Kidd 10:03
The teams scores were NSW 6 points, Vic 18, Qld 21.
Girls U16
The under-16 girls teams race was a exciting contest with just two places and a few seconds deciding the event. NSW’s team were: 2nd Annabelle Vella, 5th Taylor Tracey, 8th Sophie Polkinghorne and 10th Ruby Cameron. They won the teams race with 15 points from Queensland on 17 and Victoria 18.
Men U20
NSW’s junior men’s distance running is bright on today’s result. In Victoria’s back yard, the NSW under-20 men claimed second, third and fourth in a quality race. Harrison Boyn ran 25:20, Harrison Phillips 25:26 and Kayden Elliott with 25:27, missed the podium by one second. They combined with 11th placed Cooper Phillips to comfortably win the teams battle: NSW 12, Queensland 18 and Victoria 19.
NSW Results summary – medalists, leading open athletes and all team places.
OPEN Men 10km
8th Logan CAMPBELL 31:13
18th Drew FRYER 32:00
Open women Para 3km
7th Jessica FILOCAMO · T20, F20 20:57
Open men Para 3km
2nd Aaron HOUSTON · T20, F20 9:54
4th Kyle MCINTOSH · T20 10:09
5th Jack CONROY · T38, F38 12:24
U20 women Para 3km
4th Sara BERGEN · T20, F20 16:38
U20 Men 8km
2nd Harrison BOYN 25:20
3rd Harrison PHILLIPS 25:26
4th Kayden ELLIOTT 25:27
U18 boys 6km
2nd Matthew MCLACHLAN 18:46
U17 girls 4km
3rd Pippa SCHWARZ 14:31
U16 girls 4km
2nd Annabelle VELLA 14:42
U15 boys 4km
2nd Phillip BOTONIS 13:12
U14 boys 3km
1st Nathaniel BARRETT 9:52
2nd Matthew FAULKNER 9:56
3rd Isaac ROBINSON 9:59
U13 boys 3km
1st Archie HERB 10:06
3rd Morgan DAGG 10:32
U13 girls 3km
2nd Viktorie TREBULOVA 10:47
U12 girls
1st Josephine HAN 11:03
3rd Caitlin BUTLER 11:16
U12 boys
1st Archie HERB 10:06
3rd Morgan DAGG 10:32
U11 boys 2km
3rd Men Beau DAY
U11 girls 2km
3rd Harlow CAMPBELL 7:45
Open Men 2 NSW 41
U18 boys 2nd NSW – 16 pts
U17 boys 3rd NSW – 18 pts
U16 boys 3rd NSW – 23 pts
U15 boys 2nd NSW – 21 pts
U14 boys 1st NSW – 6 pts
U13 boys 3rd NSW – 22 pts
U12 boys 1st NSW – 6 pts
U11 boys 2nd NSW – 14 pts
U15 boys Para 3rd NSW – 11 pts
Open women 1st NSW – 16 pts
U20 women 2nd NSW – 21 pts
U18 girls 2nd NSW – 19 pts
U17 girls 2nd NSW – 18 pts
U16 girls 1st NSW – 15 pts
U15 girls 4th NSW – 31 pts
U14 girls 5th NSW – 32 pts
U13 girls 3rd NSW – 18 pts
U12 girls 1st NSW – 8 pts
U11 girls 1st NSW – 13 pts
David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Bronte Oates leading the open womens (image courtesy of Fred Etter)
