Henley wins HEB Cross Country event

Cross Country

Brent Henley burst on to the cross country scene with an impressive display of front running, for a convincing victory in the annual HEB 7500m event.
Raced around the Pukekohe showgrounds on Saturday, Henley shut out winner for the last three years Stephen Lett, by 20 seconds, with his run of 24m 7s.

Jono Jackson was third in 24m 35s, with Alex Parlane fourth.

Henley is more of a track runner and uses the cross country season to build up his endurance.
“I had planned all along to go out fast. I’ve got a bit of strength at the moment so I was able to hold them off at the end,” said Henley.
“I’m an 800m runner, but cross country is one of those things in the winter to do. I was fifth in New Zealand in the 800m, I was hoping for a little bit better.
“Since then I’ve done five weeks of 170km a week in training,” he added.

Lett felt that he had run pretty well, but was up against an in form Henley.
“I was not quite quick enough for Brent – he’s got to be one to watch this year. He didn’t fall back, so obviously he’s got the strength now,” he said.

Lett is focussing on the Christchurch half marathon in early June before attempting a sub 2h 20m marathon on the Gold Coast in July. He has a best marathon of 2h 28m 23s in the 2007 Auckland race.

Georgie Grgec, national junior 5000m and road champion, won the combined women’s 5000m race with the seniors and masters. Grgec circled the grounds in 19m 29s, heading in Natasha Bowyer and the first senior Maddy Brunton of Hamilton. Rachel Penney was the best of the masters with Jon Healey the fastest in the masters over 7500m. Cooper Rand won the junior men’s 5000m in 17m 2s. Jonty Morreau won the M16 5000m in 17m 32s, one second ahead of Troy Lonergans while Jessica Morrison collected the W16 3500m in 13m 48s.