Moree runners Bella Boland and Marley Legg celebrate with their medals after outstanding performances at the School Sport Australia Cross Country Championships in Sydney, where Bella won national gold and Marley claimed silver. Photo: Keira Legg
Two young Moree runners have stood on the national podium after a remarkable morning at the School Sport Australia Cross Country Championships in Sydney, with Bella Boland winning gold and Marley Legg claiming silver.
Ten-year-old Bella led from the front to win the 2km national title in 7 minutes 12 seconds, six seconds clear of Victoria’s Winifred Lyon, while Marley produced a 15-second personal best to finish just two seconds behind the winner in the 12 Years Girls 3km.
For two runners who arrived in Sydney as NSW champions, it was a morning that delivered even more than their families had dared hope for.
Bella lined up against 35 other runners for her first appearance at a national championship and wasted little time announcing her intentions. The official timing shows the Moree runner first at every recorded checkpoint before she crossed the line in 7:12, ahead of Lyon in 7:18 and Victoria’s Diyana Agampodi in 7:20.
It was no accident. Bella’s mother, Toni Boland, said her daughter went into the race with a clear plan to establish herself at the front before her rivals had an opportunity to dictate the race.
“Her tactic was to get out early and hold her form and, I guess, just put that distance between them so no one tried to challenge really,” Toni said.
“She got out early and led from the front and held it the whole way and came home strong. She had her plan and she just played it out to perfection, really.”
Back in Moree, coach Ronny Clissold and supporters were trying to follow every glimpse of Bella through an unreliable livestream. Ronny knew exactly what lay ahead, talking those around him through the hills and pointing out what he regarded as the toughest climb on the course.
When Bella appeared still in front approaching the closing stages, Ronny offered a simple assessment: “I wouldn’t like to be chasing it.”
At the course, Keira Legg was watching Bella put the plan into action.
“I think she went out really hard. We thought too hard, but she was in front by the turn,” Keira said in a FaceTime call to the Moree group immediately after the race.
Keira estimated Bella had opened a lead of at least five seconds. The official results later put the winning margin at six.
There was another number worth celebrating. Toni said Bella had previously run 7:20 on the course at the NSW championships, making Tuesday’s 7:12 an eight-second improvement.
For Toni, however, cross country is about more than comparing numbers on a results sheet.
“It’s really hard to compare because they’re different courses, everyone’s competing different courses, different conditions,” she said.
“That PB and competing against yourself is such a big part, I think, in the cross-country.”
There was barely time for the excitement of Bella’s national title to settle before attention turned to Marley, whose 3km race unfolded very differently.
Marley was fourth at the first recorded checkpoint, moved into second, slipped to third at a later checkpoint and then regained second before the closing stages. She crossed the line in 10:49, just two seconds behind Queensland’s Mia Parker, who won the national title in 10:47. Western Australia’s Isabella Hayes was third in 10:56.
Keira said Marley started among the leading group before finding her place in a race containing some formidable opposition.
“She was sort of in the front pack to start with and then spent some time working out her position and then settled pretty comfortably into second,” she said.
“We really prayed for podium, but we were aiming for a PB with our time. We knew entering into it, it was going to be tough. For Marley’s outcome, look, we are all just blown away. She’s done so well.”
The silver medal was accompanied by another milestone. Marley took 15 seconds from her previous best and broke a barrier her family had been particularly keen to see fall.
“We wanted that sub-11 pretty bad,” Keira said.
“That’s a pretty good sign of her strength if we can do something sub-11. And so a 10:49 is absolutely amazing.”
The individual medals were not the end of the morning. Bella’s performance contributed to NSW Primary winning the 10 Years Girls teams competition, earning her a second gold medal, while Marley was part of the NSW team that secured silver in her age group.
The championships are not quite finished for either runner. Both will line up again for NSW in the relays on Thursday, with Bella contesting the 10 Years Girls 6x1km relay and Marley the 12 Years Girls 6×1.5km relay, giving each an opportunity to secure a third medal.
Beyond cross country, both girls will turn their attention to athletics. Bella has qualified for State competition in the 200m, 800m, 1500m and junior relay, while Marley has qualified in the 800m, 1500m and long jump.
The results are the latest chapter in a journey built through countless training sessions in Moree and the support of Ronny, their families, school and the wider Ronny’s Runners group.
Toni said Ronny continued to give his time, expertise and guidance to the young runners, including calling the girls before and after their races in Sydney.
“I think having that support from him means a lot to the girls and to us as well,” she said. “There’s been a lot of support from everyone around us really. We’re really grateful for that.”
Keira was equally emphatic about the role Ronny has played.
“A massive thank you to Ronny because without him there’s absolutely no way we would be here,” she said.
The families also thanked Moree Services Club, Moree Men’s Shed, Moree Public School, Moree Public School P&C, SOS Phone Repair Moree, Woods Air and Electrical, North West School Sport Association and those who supported the NSW School Sport raffle.
For the Moree contingent, Tuesday belonged to two young runners who arrived in Sydney as State champions and finished their individual races with national gold and silver.
And when confirmation of Bella’s victory finally reached those watching back home, Ronny perhaps summed up the morning best.
“Time doesn’t matter when you win.”
