The 2022 Oceania Athletics Cross Country Championships were held in Mangilao, Guam last month.
It was the second time Guam has hosted the Championships, with conditions a little wet under foot, due to strong rainfall the evening prior. However, this did not deter a large number of runners from starting the race.
In the Women’s Championship, it was all Ongan Awa from Papua New Guinea. Awa – who finished 3rd over 5000m at the Area Championships in Mackay in the middle of the year – showed class to run through strongly and take victory, and qualification for the World Cross Country Championships being held in Bathurst in February 2023. Denise Meyers, from neighbouring Northern Marianas, finished in second and local, Ayuri Sugahara, finished third to round out the podium.
In the Men’s race, Guam showed the capabilities of their long distance runners. The host country has a long and proud history in long distance running, both on the roads and cross country. Ryan Matienzo took the Oceania title, with a strong race, running away from the field over the latter half of the race. Matienzo, who is a triathlete as well, will be looking to focus over the next few months on his running, as an automatic spot at the World Cross Country in Bathurst is now his. His Guam team mates – Arthur Toves and Derek Mandell – rounded a clean sweep for the home federation in the Men’s race.
A large number of local runners ran over 6km for the Under 20 Championship, with Jordan Baden taking out the Women’s U20 title, and Hugh Kent the Men’s.