Sam Tanner's Cross Country World Champs

I have been selected to represent New Zealand in the 2018 World secondary schools cross country champs which is in Paris, France.

I am 17 years old and i am the deputy head head boy at Bethlehem college.

I started running when I was about 9 years old.

I went through my primary school winning the school cross country and then winning the area school cross countries and then on to winning the bay of Plenty cross country. I decided to make a goal for myself to see if I could win the cross country at the New Zealand Aims games tournament held in tauranga every year for year 7 and 8 students.

I was lucky enough to win back to back titles with setting a record in the year 7 race.

I then went on the win the NZ secondary school year 9 cross country race. In my year 10 race I ran in the junior boys race and came 3 rd.

In 2017 I was lucky enough to get myself a coach Craig Kirkwood and he guided me to be in good form to win the prestigious NZ senior boy Cross country title. As a year 12 student I was super stoked to win this title.

I was then selected to run for the NZ team in the Australian schools cross country champs.. I came 3 rd in the u18 boys individual competition.

I have had a very good athletic season this year coming 2 nd in the 1500 m at NZ secondary school track and field champs. I have set some good personal best times this season.

1500m 3:48.7 and

800m 1:52.2

3000m 8:22

My goal is to podium at worlds in Paris. The race is a flat 5 km so I believe this could definitely be a race that I will do well in.

I am the oldest of 5 kids and funding this trip is not possible without some help from friends and family.