NSW Cross Country Championships: Emerging stars, Teams and Records

23 June 2025

NSW Cross Country Championships: Emerging stars, Teams and Records

The 2025 NSW Cross Country Championships were a major success with record entry numbers (800), close team battles between more teams than ever and plenty of emerging talent – all on an iconic venue. 

OPEN TEAMS
A jump from four to six teams in the open men was a great result. Sydney University claimed the title, moving up from third last year, while Run Crew duplicated their 2024 result of silver. There was a four-way battle for the bronze medal, with Kembla Joggers finishing on the podium, from last year’s winners Bankstown, Randwick Botany and Sydney Uni B team.

The women was a close battle with defending team champions Run Crew tied with Bankstown on 18 points, but Bankstown taking the title on countback.

U16 TEAMS
An amazing seven boys and eight girls’ teams in the under-16s. In the girls’ battle, defending champions Bankstown were no match for Manly Warringah. They had won the XC relays and at Nowra dominated the race with all four team members in the top-7, led home by Eliza Lawton. Bankstown were second and Manly B second. 

In the boys, Trinity claimed first and third individual places, ensuring they were competitive. They claimed the title from Randwick Botany who were second on countback from Newcastle Flyers and just off the podium were Run Crew. Trinity was served well by National steeplechase champion and record holder Patrick McMahon who won and Lachlan Wheeler, fourth across, but third scored.

UNDER-16 GIRLS 4KM
The girl’s under-16 race was a high standard race with three of the best, not just in NSW, but nationally in action. National steeplechase champion Annabelle Vella won in 14:24, from national 1500/3000m champion Elza Lawton (14:38). In third was endurance queen Sophie Polkinghorne, who at the National Under-16s was 4th in the 1500m, 5th in the 3000m and 2nd in the 3000m walk. In Nowra Sophie clocked 14:54 to just hold off Olivia Kalamvokis by two seconds. 

UNDER-20 MEN – Cooper Phillips
It was a commanding record-breaking performance from Run Crew’s Cooper Phillips, who clocked the fastest time in the history of the event. At the mid-way point of the 8km race, he held a five second lead over current National under-18 champion Kayden Elliott (BAN). Over the second half of the race, Cooper extended that lead to 29 seconds for a comfortable win in 25:24, from Kayden Elliott (25:53) and Harrison Boyn (26:08).

The times were very quick. Since the 8km distance was first conducted for the under-20 age in 2011, only one athlete, ACT visitor last year John Maguire, had run under 26 minutes, when he clocked 25:42. Cooper’s time of 25:24 easily surpassed that, and Kayden Elliott was just the third athlete under 26 minutes.

It was a comfortable win for Cooper?
“I don't know about that, it was pretty hard,” responded Cooper.
“The plan is always to win but I definitely wasn't sure because Kayden won nationals last year and he beat me here last year, so I definitely wanted to try and beat him.”

Cooper explained his race strategy.
“My plan was to just run hard from the start because I feel like that's my strength, just trying to take the sting out of the legs of everyone. But I don't know, definitely a hard way to run the 8km but that was kind of my plan, just take it hard from the start.
The year 12 Barker College student started his journey in athletics through school competition aged about 12.

NSW State XC U20 8km – All-time list (at Willandra only)
25:24    Cooper Phillips 2025
25:42    John Maguire ACT 2024
25:53    Kayden Elliott 2025
26:07    Jye Edwards 2016
26:08    Harrison Boyn 2025
26:09    Bailey Habler 2023
26:09    Patrick Cantlon 2022
26:12    Harrison Baxter 2025
26:13    Oliver Neate 2024

UNDER-18 WOMEN – Emily Rogers
One of the outstanding junior winners was Wests’ Emily Rogers over a strong field in the under-18 4km. The NSW under-18 3000m champion, who just missed the podium at the Nationals in Perth clocking a PB time of 9:50.72, won in Nowra this weekend by 17 seconds in a time of 14:19. She defeated Amelie Chudley (14:36) and Pippa Schwarz (14:46). 

She started the race conservatively.
“As expected, the race went out pretty fast down the hill, but I stuck at the back until the bottom, where I started to work my way through the field. By the bridge I was in a better position, which I kept until around halfway when I took the lead.” 

The addition of a coach (Deb Walsham) seems to have had a major impact on Emily’s performances.
“Before last year I was coaching myself and having frequent setbacks, but thanks to my amazing coach I’ve stayed running for over a year now - so I’ve been able to start this season with some fitness rather than needing to retrain as I have in the past. I’m excited to hopefully keep progressing from here!”  

UNDER-18 MEN – Matthew McLachlan
After a conservative start Trinity’s Matthew McLachlan defending his State cross country title in Nowra. It was his sixth State title on the iconic course. In the 6km race, Gosford’s Harrison McClusky set a cracking early pace, leading at the mid-way point in 9:05, five seconds ahead of Matthew with 9:10. 
“My legs were tired from the fast start, but the middle section was slower, so I had a bit of energy left for the final km,” said Matthew. He would not assume the clear lead until about 800m remaining, going on to take the race by eight seconds in a time of 18:37 ahead of Harrison on 18:45.
“The course felt fast under foot, but the short, sharp hills are definitely challenging,” Matthew said.

Matthew is coming off an excellent summer which included a couple of podium finishes at the Nationals in Perth and PBs galore over 1500m and 3000m, landing at 3:49.98 (1500m) and 8:14.00 (3000m) at seasons end.
“Last track season was a step in the right direction, and I am looking forward to national cross and next track season.”

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
Nine athletes defended their 2024 titles:
Paul Arthur 55-59 years, Jose Carvalho 65-69, Cruz Ralph 7y, Lily Stephenson 9y, Bailey Mulcahy 9y, Harlow Campbell 10y, Archie Herb 11y, Patrick McMahon 15y and Matthew McLachlan 17y. 

BEST CONDITIONS FOR YEARS
Rod Gibb, who owns the property we ran the cross country on, was pleased with the surface he produced for the 2025 edition of the championships which have been held here for over three decades.
“I've got to tell you it's the best I've seen it for quite some time. It's just because we have had the right amount of water. and the rain eased up at the right time. We've also had thousands of runners over it, so they've packed it down. It's nice and firm and fast, and looks nice,” said a proud Rod Gibb.

VICTORY RUNNERS AND THE GIBB FAMILY THANK YOU
A massive thank you to host club, Victory Runners, and the Gibb family specifically Rod and Jan and daughter Tracey’s family, for another terrific job at preparing the premier cross-country event of the year. The venue hosted the inaugural NSW XC Relays in 1991 and held their first NSW State XC Championship in 1993 and this year’s edition was the 25th – a staggering achievement.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Matthew McLachlan and Harrison McClusky in the U18 mens 8km (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)