After a convincing display of participation and energy on Athletics Day to secure the House Cup, Onewa carried that momentum into Cross Country, backing it up just three weeks later with a strong overall victory on School Cross Country Day. With all houses guaranteed points through the compulsory involvement of Year 9 students, the overall result ultimately came down to performance at the top end where Onewa’s dominance in the Senior Girls race proved decisive.
Blessed with the last of the summer warmth, students took to the near 3km course around the perimeter of Westlake Girls High School on Friday 20 March. The course was awash with house colours, as waves of runners set off to the cheers of supporters lining the route. The afternoon was filled with energy and excitement, with noise, colour, and determination creating a vibrant and memorable atmosphere.
Across the junior, intermediate, and senior races, competition was fierce. At the front of each field, leading runners set a demanding pace, pushing one another throughout. The standout performance of the day came in the Senior Girls race, where Emma Davies delivered an exceptional run to break the school record, stopping the clock at an impressive 11 minutes 53 seconds. Now in Year 12, Emma has built a remarkable cross-country record during her time at Westlake, having consistently featured on the podium and previously claiming both Junior and Intermediate titles.
A big thank you goes to the staff and student leaders who helped deliver such a successful day. From organising logistics to marshalling the course and encouraging runners, their efforts ensured the event ran smoothly and maintained its positive, high-energy atmosphere throughout.
2026 Cross Country House Points:
2026 Cross Country House Points was very close this year and eventually won by ONEWA with is seniors leading the way by taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd placing.
| HOUSE | POINTS |
| ONEWA – 1st | 122 |
| AKORANGA – 2nd | 111 |
| HAURAKI – 3rd | 104 |
| WAIRAU – 4th | 102 |
| PUPUKE – 5th | 101 |
2026 Westlake Girls Cross Country Champions:
Junior Champion – Siara Rama – Akoranga
Intermediate Champion – Olive Robinson – Pupuke
Senior Champion – Emma Davies – Onewa