Samprime_84633_01.jpg: Sam Prime took out the School Sports Victoria 17-20 girls cross country representing Berwick Secondary College. Picture: ATHLETICS VICTORIA
By JARROD POTTER
BERWICK’S best all-terrain runner Sam Prime swept past the field in two impressive state cross country victories over the last week.
The 17-year-old runner claimed the School Sports Victoria public schools cross country final, beating 74 other runners to finish the three-kilometre course at Bundoora in 9.24 minutes.
A second state title in less than a week beckoned and Prime won the All Schools Cross Country Championships, crossing first ahead of a 150-strong field for the Under 18 Girls’ 4km race in 14.05 minutes.
Prime took out the SSV public schools final by hitting the front early and maintaining a solid lead.
“I basically led from the start and won by 20 seconds,” Prime said.
“Basically just running by myself most of the race.
“There were a few hills in it, but I like the hills as that’s where I thrive, so I just used them to my advantage.”
Her run in the All Schools was more challenging, but Prime made her move at the final hill a kilometre from the end and held on for the victory, which qualifies her to run at the national cross country championships in Adelaide next month.
“We did two laps of the two kilometre track and the first lap was a good challenge with four of us girls leading the front pack and then after two kilometres I made a move up one of the hills and had to hold on until the end of the race,” Prime said.
“That was exciting, because I hadn’t run in that competition for two years, my last run in the All Schools was 2009, so it was exciting to be back and be out there running against the best in Victoria.
Nationals poses a bigger challenge for Prime, but she’s no stranger to winning at the championships, having claimed multiple national titles in her running career to date.
“My last nationals was in 2009, it is a lot tougher and more challenging as you’re running against the best of the best in the nation, but it’s good to run against the best girls in each state,” Prime said.
Other School Sports Victoria cross-country winners from the area were Renton Lewis from Berwick Secondary College in the U16 boys, Nicholas Thomas from Brentwood Secondary College in the U15 boys, and Nar Nar Goon Primary School’s Josh Patterson in the 9-12 boys AWD.
