11 km Auckland Traverse
A group of Year 10 boys are taking fitness and determination in their stride, having successfully taken part in the Auckland Marathon, held last weekend.
Thank you to Mr Viraj Hewage, who managed the boys' logistics, motivation and coaching, and sent in this report...
We would like to share a proud achievement from a group of Year 10 Green Bay High School students. On Sunday 1 November 2026, Neth Hewage, Seth Hewage, Mason Connon-Kalopulu and Lewis Stuart completed the 11 km Auckland Traverse at the Auckland Marathon, running from Smales Farm over the Auckland Harbour Bridge to the finish at Victoria Park. They were among 4,589 finishers.
DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT This result was built on months of early mornings, school-night runs and weekends given up to training. Before race training even began, the boys had already run at least nine Saturday parkruns at Parrs Park, a 5 km gravel trail course, plus three 7 km runs.
From 19 September they stepped up to eight long runs together over six weeks, most of them 11 km, the full race distance. They trained wherever they could: the local roads around Titirangi and Glen Eden, the Parrs Park trails, the hills of the Waitakere Ranges, and Tamaki Drive and Orakei along the waterfront. In total they completed more than 20 training runs.
Their best group run came on 26 September, 11 km in about one hour at a steady pace with no stops. On 3 October Lewis ran 56 minutes, the first of the group to break the target in training. Their friend Julius trained with the group throughout and was a big part of keeping everyone motivated.
THE TARGET The team set itself a goal of under 57 minutes, about 5 minutes 11 seconds per kilometre. The plan was to run together as a group through the Harbour Bridge climb, then race each other to the finish.
THE RESULTS The Traverse had 4,589 finishers overall, including 107 in the males 15–19 age group and 230 in males 10–14.
- Lewis Stuart: 55:34 – 215th of 4,589 overall, 17th of 107 in males 15–19
- Mason Connon-Kalopulu: 59:43 – 404th of 4,589 overall, 64th of 230 in males 10–14
- Neth Hewage: 59:50 – 410th of 4,589 overall, 27th of 107 in males 15–19
- Seth Hewage: 1:03:36 – 640th of 4,589 overall, 37th of 107 in males 15–19
Lewis, beat the team target by nearly a minute and a half. Mason and Neth finished just seven seconds apart, and Seth finished strong in his first 11 km race.
The toughest part of the course was the 750 m timed section over the Harbour Bridge, which climbs to 44 m. Lewis crossed it in 3 minutes 55.6 seconds, a pace of 5:14 per km. Neth followed in 4 minutes 27 seconds (5:56 per km), with Mason close behind in 4 minutes 28.5 seconds (5:58 per km). Seth completed the climb in 4 minutes 39.3 seconds (6:12 per km).
WHAT'S NEXT The boys have already set their next...
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