The Otago Girls’ runner knew she was up against it at the New Zealand secondary schools cross-country championships in Palmerston North at the weekend, chasing down favourite Boh Ritchie (St Peter’s School), the fastest national under-20 runner over 3000m this season.
But Lund bided her time, and with 800m to go in the 4km race, she put her foot down to pass the pack leaders and break away.
Ritchie came hot on her heels but Lund’s pace was too much as the gap continued to grow, finishing the final 2km lap on her own to win the senior girls title in 14min 10.99sec, 17sec ahead of Ritchie.
She then teamed up with Zara Geddes (St Hilda's), Jake Owen and Matthew Bolter (both Otago Boys’) for the senior mixed 8km relay. The Otago team put in a sterling effort and was pipped for gold by 2sec by Whanganui, Otago finishing in 29min 44.53sec.
Geddes placed eighth in the senior girls and Owen and Bolter finished 20th and 31st respectively in the senior boys race .
Lund and Geddes were again selected for the New Zealand cross-country team to compete at the Australian age-group championships.
