AFTER earning second placings in cross country last year, Amelia Blake and Jacob Blades won their age groups yesterday on the first day of the St Mary's interhouse carnival.

For the second time the St Mary's cross country was held at Victoria Park.

Older children from the upper primary school ran three laps of a 1km course which included an uphill section towards the parking area opposite the Warwick Hospital.

The younger age groups at the upper school ran two laps of the same course.

Amelia, who lives near the Victoria Park course, completes a couple of training sessions there a week.

"I sometimes run two laps, at other times three," she said.

Jacob plays rugby league and also competes in little athletics so running contests are not foreign to the 12 years age champion.

Abbey Minogue was third last year in her age group and won yesterday.

"I didn't come to win," she said.

She did give it her all on the way to win the 13 years age group.

Rhys Farrell was boys 13 years champion.

His main sport is rugby league and he believes footy training helped him win his age group yesterday.

Today, St Mary's lower campus students, born 2004 and later, will compete on a shorter course at Victoria Park.

Each participant earns points for their house in addition to the points for placings.

A trophy will be presented to the champion house in cross country tomorrow.

Students will vie for positions in the Southern Downs team to compete at the Darling Downs regional championships.

Champions

13 years: Girls 1 Abbey Minogue, 2 Mia Aranas; boys 1 Rhys Farrell, 2 Mitchell Kinsley.

12 years: Girls 1 Amelia Blake, 2 Bronte Le Sueur; boys 1 Jacob Blades, 2 Will Gordon.

11 years: Girls 1 Ella Hudson, 2 Zoe Wallace; boys 1 Sam Ogden, 2 Joe Gordon.

10 years: Girls 1 Caitlin Skaines, 2 Betty-Rose Carey; boys 1 Matthew Henry, 2 Ben Fischer.

9 years: Girls 1 Annabel Donaldson, 2 Faith Kelly; boys 1 Jordan Ball, 2 Pat Gordon.