2 July, 2025

Podcast pick helps propel Westlake runner to NZ title

Pulling away… Huw Robinson in the lead of the Year 9 national cross country race, ahead of Matthew Meikeljohn of St Patrick’s College (No 408)

A podcast suggesting that Huw Robinson’s key rival would win the New Zealand Secondary Schools Cross Country Championship helped motivate the Westlake Boys High School athlete to take the Year 9 boys’ title.
Robinson (14) was listening to the preview podcast the night before his 3000m race when Matthew Meikeljohn of St Patrick’s College (Silverstream) in Wellington was pitched as the favourite. “It gave me the motivation to prove to people I could win,” Huw said.
Huw had placed second to Matthew in the 1500m at the North Island secondary school track champs in Tauranga in April.
And the rivalry continued as expected at the cross country champs in Whangarei on 14 June, with Huw on the Wellingtonian’s shoulder for two-thirds of the race. “I was always to the front of the race but 800m before the finish I sped up.”

Top results… Westlake Boys High School runners at the national cross country champs in Whangarei

Huw finished five seconds ahead in 10 mins 1 sec.
“We are rivals, not enemies,” Huw says. “I’ve got a lot of respect for him – we push each other.”
Huw’s other main motivation has been his mother, Anwen Robinson, who won national cross country championships in Wales. “I wanted to follow in her footsteps.”
Huw enjoys both track (he won the 3000m at the North Island champs in April) and cross country, and will run his first road race next term.
He has his sights set on the World Secondary School cross country champs, which will be held in April 2026 in either China or Qatar.

• Westlake posted excellent results in the Year 9 boys’ race, with three students finishing in the top 10. Liam Crooks came 5th and Brennan Wilson 9th. The top placings meant Westlake took out the boys’ three-person and six-person teams titles.

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