NSW Cross Country Championships – Expect a thrilling women’s race, as Ed Goddard chases history

18 June 2026

NSW Cross Country Championships – Expect a thrilling women’s race, as Ed Goddard chases history

The iconic Gibb family property, at Willandra near Nowra, is set to host the 2026 NSW State Cross Country Championships on Saturday June 20. In the men’s race, the 128th edition, UTS Norths athlete Ed Goddard will be chasing a historic fifth title, while the women’s 71st edition features an exciting race between four well credentialled athletes. The day also includes the 53rd Little Athletics NSW XC Championships, as nearly 900 athletes compete across the day.

Open men’s 128th 10km Cross Country

Four-time winner Ed Goddard starts as favourite in the open men’s 10km race, but he will have strong competition from as many as nine athletes, all with podium credentials. They include: three top-6 athletes from last month’s Sydney 10 - Benjamin Ngandu (KEJ), Brit Jack Millar (RCR) and Isaac Shaw (BAN) all in good recent form; 2025 NSW Short Course Cross Country medallists Ben Bishop (SYU), Ben Graham (SYU) and tri-athlete Logan Campbell (UNSW); 2025 NSW Half-Marathon champion Drew Fryer (RBH); 2023 World Cross Country junior representative Ciaran Rushton (RCR) and finally dual Olympian Ben St Lawrence (RCR).

Ed Goddard has been the most dominate athletes at the NSW Winter series over the last decade, claiming eight titles at the XC Championships, Short Course XC Championships, Sydney 10 and NSW Half Marathon. A fifth title on Saturday, will make Ed the equal second most successful athlete in the history of the race and the best for nearly 100 years.

Open women’s 71st 10km Cross Country

This race will be most intriguing with slender favourite Holly Campbell (RBH), facing some high-quality competition. Campbell is coming off a terrific 15 months, including a 31:54 track 10,000m PB, 2025 Sydney 10 win (32:18), Burnie 10 bronze medal and 44th place at the 2026 World XC Championships.

Sydney 10 winner and former 2-time NSW XC champion, Kate Spencer is in form after a quick 10km road PB of 33:26 recently. Her Sydney 10 win last month was ahead of Irish athlete Nichola Sheridan (33:36) and Kiwi Martina Conner 34:03). Both will be more than competitive, especially Sheridan who is definitely the dark horse in the race. Three weeks ago she ran 72:47 at the Launceston Half Marathon, a two-minute PB. The Primary school teacher from County Meath (in Ireland) only arrived in Australia in December and started training with Run Crew in January. She had usually trained alone in Ireland, but has been really enjoying training in a squad since she arrived in Australia.

NSW Cross Country Championships

The premier NSW XC championship of the year features races for athletes aged from seven to 80+, and over distances from 1km to 10km. The 16-race program starts at 10.30am and concludes at 4.00pm.

Entries, timetable, course maps and directions: https://www.nswathletics.org.au/events/342855

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Holly Campbell (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)