In tough and muddy conditions in Ballarat, Victoria, the Australian Athletics Cross Country Championships have been run and won, with some impressive results in what was a challenging day of racing.
After breaking the marathon national record in early July on the Gold Coast, Haftu Strintzos’s (VIC) great year has continued, he now has a senior cross country national title to his name.
Strintzos just managed to hold on for the win after going out hard winning the men’s Australian Championship 10km race with a time of 32:14, with Yohanes Asmare (ETH) coming in second with a time of 32:20, and Edward Marks (VIC) third with a time of 32:23.
The third Australian through in the race was Luke Hince (NSW), who finished fourth overall, gaining himself a spot on the podium.
After the race Strintzos was happy to get the win as he now turns his focus on the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen in September.
“My goal in this race was to race hard, and I wanted to get the national title, because I don’t have a senior cross country national title,” he said.
“That was the goal, and I ticked off both of those.
“Today was a good day for me, I’m very happy about it.”
Strintzos said the tough conditions worked in his favour, as he has a strong cross-country background after racing in the NCAA college system in the United States.
“This was a different kind of race,” he said.
“I don’t think it suited the guys that race on the track, but luckily for me I have a cross-country background, so it worked out well.”
In the women’s Australian Championship 10km race Holly Campbell (NSW) took home the national title.
She won with a time of 38:18, with Ruby Smee (TAS) coming in second with a time of 38:45, and Jaylah Hancock-Cameron (NSW) third with a time of 39:11.
She ran a strong race from the beginning and admitted the last lap of the muddy Ballarat course she just tried to stay upright
“The last lap I was kind of just focusing on staying on my feet, because I thought if I could stay on my feet, there was probably a good chance I could get there for a win,” she said.
“No one can prepare for these kinds of conditions.
“I’m really happy to just get it done.”
In the men’s para 3km, Cameron Marshall (VIC) took out the win with a time of 11:02.
Reece Langdon (VIC) finished second, and Kyle McIntosh (NSW) third.
In the women’s para 3km Annabelle Colman (VIC) took out the win with a time of 12:49, with Tamsin Colley (NSW) coming in second and Georgia Powning (VIC) third.
In the women’s U20 6km Milla Roberts (QLD) was crowned Australian Champion, just two weeks after she made the final of the 1500m at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, United States.
Isabella Valinoti (QLD) was in second place, and Olivia O’Kelly (NSW) third.
It was the same for Lucas Chis (VIC), who won the men’s U20 6km and the national title, just two weeks after making the final of the 5000m in Eugene.
Harrison Boyne (NSW) came second, and Braydan Noonan (ACT) third.
Despite the sometimes wet and muddy conditions, spirits were high at the Victoria Park course yesterday.
It has been a bumper year for entries in the Championships, with participation up 10 percent across the board.
There also has been massive growth in the junior categories, with girls U11 and U12 entry lists growing by 40 percent.
The Australian Athletics Cross Country Championships are supported by the Victorian Government, the City of Ballarat and are part of the Chemist Warehouse Winter Series.
On Sunday the Australian Athletics Junior Race Walking Championships will take place in Ballarat, as well as the Australian Athletics Cross Country Relays.
Full results for all the events for the Australian Athletics Cross Country Championships HERE
By Luke Dennehy and Maggie Trewin, Australian Athletics
Posted 22/08/2026
