Orewa College ākonga and Lacey Gornall delivered strong individual and team performances across all three days of the NZSS Orienteering Championships 2025.
Determined team effort sees Orewa College shine at national orienteering championships
Over the weekend of July 11–13, a talented group of Orewa College students took on the best young orienteers in New Zealand at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Orienteering Championships 2025 (NZSSOC25), held across various Auckland locations. Among them, Year 8 student, Lacey Gornall, who delivered an outstanding series of performances across all three days of competition.
The event opened on Friday, July 11, with the Sprint race held at St Cuthbert's College. Lacey navigated the technical urban course with incredible precision and speed, securing an impressive 2nd place with a time of 14:01, just three seconds behind the winner.
On Saturday, July 12, competitors tackled the Long Distance event at the rugged and forested Mushroom Road, Woodhill Forest. Against a tough field and challenging terrain, Lacey again rose to the occasion, finishing 3rd with a time of 38:37, only 3 minutes and 43 seconds off the lead.
To round out the championship weekend, Lacey joined fellow Year 8 students, Harlem Hope Jensen and Hunter Tipene, in a combined Year 7/8 Boys Relay team on Sunday, July 13, at Célèbre, Woodhill Forest. Despite fierce competition, the trio performed admirably to finish in 4th place, just 28 seconds shy of a podium finish.
Lacey’s consistent top placings across multiple formats showcase her versatility as an orienteer. We are incredibly proud of her success at this national level.
Other Impressive Orewa College Results:
Sprint – Friday 11 July, St Cuthbert’s College
Year 7/8 Boys
21st – Hunter Tipene – 24:12 (+10:47)
34th – Harlem Hope Jensen – 27:57 (+14:32)
Year 10/11 Girls
11th – Harper Tipene – 17:56 (+4:00)
Year 10/11 Boys
38th – Brooklyn Hope Jensen – 24:31 (+10:35)
Long Distance – Saturday 12 July, Mushroom Rd, Woodhill Forest
Year 7/8 Boys Championship
8th – Harlem Hope Jensen – 50:48 (+17:19)
Year 9 Boys Standard
4th – Riley Hope Jensen – 52:04 (+18:50)
Year 10/11 Boys Championship
34th – Brooklyn Hope Jensen – 1:56:21 (+1:10:04)
A huge congratulations to all our competitors for representing Orewa College. They challenged themselves on tough courses and in testing terrain to pull of these results.