Washbourn 40th

Phil Washbourn, the first local home in this year’s Air New Zealand International Triathlon, represented the Cook Islands at the Australian cross country championships on Saturday.

The race, which doubled at the Oceania Athletics Cross Country, was held in Brisbane and the field had competitors from Australian, New Zealand, PNG, Nauru and Fiji.

At 38 years of age, Washbourn was among the senior runners in the field and finished 40th, with final time of 45:35 for the 12km course.

Washbourn, who was living on Rarotonga at the time of the International Tri but has since returned to New Zealand, said “I was hoping to get ahead of the Papua New Guineans, but was a bit concerned about the knee, which has been pretty sore lately, so had to hold back a bit.”

Washbourn was selected for the race after finishing at the top of the Cook Islands Cross Country Series in June and July. Oceania Athletics contributed towards the costs of travel at the event.