Queensland look in a strong position to win the Australian Schools Championships for the first time since 1991, taking a four-point lead into Wednesday’s relays. They performed consistently across the board, coming in the first three in all four age groups.

New Zealand dominated the Southern Cross Junior Challenge and are all but certain to take it out for the third successive year. In the last two years it has only been close because their senior boys have been weak; this year their senior boys are as strong as every other age group. Queensland, in the junior girls, were the only state to take a point off them.

New Zealand went one-two in two of the individual events. Scott McDonald took out the junior boys ahead of Toby Scott, whilst Lizzie Ingham led Kate Rea by just under a minute in the senior girls. Heather Harding and Lachlan Dow, both of the ACT, were the leading Australians.

The other two classes both changed hands late. Rob Fell, an early starter, led the senior boys for most of the day, and saw off all but one challenger. That last challenger, James Sheldon, snatched the lead at the last possible moment, 50 seconds ahead, whilst Simon Jager also came in late to give the New Zealanders third place. New Zealand looked like they might take out a third age group for most of the day through Rachel Goodwin in the junior girls, but Krystal Neumann came in late to give the Queenslanders a second win, with Claire Darvodelsky completing the placings.

Points after individual: Qld 24, NSW 20, ACT 19, Vic 17, Tas 17, SA 9, WA 6.
Southern Cross Junior Challenge: NZ 31, Qld 25, ACT 19, Vic 17, Tas 17, SA 9, WA 6.