Huge congratulations to Xavier White for an outstanding performance at Sunday's Orienteering Sprint Finals held at Massey University and Orewa College.

Following five weeks of intense zone competitions, the top 50 qualifying students faced off in two distinct and demanding stages. Xavier rose to the challenge, winning both races with a dominant 1.42-minute overall lead. This impressive feat earned him a decisive victory in the Secondary Schools Intermediate Boys category.

The finals tested both physical endurance and mental agility with the first race longer runs and a gruelling uphill finish. Race 2 was a high-speed navigational puzzle within a complex campus layout, demanding split-second decision-making.

For Xavier, the victory was particularly sweet as he edged out a top-tier competitor who had recently beaten him in the 1500m athletics championships.

The standout news is that Xavier’s previous performance in a 3-day trial in early March against athletes from all over NZ has earned him a spot on the New Zealand U16 Team. He will be traveling to Slovenia this June to compete in the European Youth Orienteering Championships!

Congratulations, Xavier—your hard work and steady focus have truly paid off. We wish you the very best of luck on the world stage!