Southern Cross University teams are shaping up well for the gruelling 96km Kokoda Challenge on the weekend of July 19 and 20.

All four University teams participated in the ¿Mini Kokoda¿ on June 22, completing the 29 kilometre walk on hilly and rough terrain comfortably.

The 16 staff from the Lismore, Coffs Harbour and Tweed Gold Coast campuses were just some of the 500 people who took part in the event, which is considered essential training for the main Kokoda Challenge, of which Southern Cross University is the education partner.

To be held on July 19 and 20 in the Gold Coast hinterland, the Challenge requires each team of four people to complete the 96-kilometre route within 39 hours (representing the distance of the Kokoda Track and the 39th Militia). Teams can walk or run, but each member must pass through 14 checkpoints on the way to the finish line. All money raised from the event goes to the Kokoda Challenge Youth Program, a youth leadership and development program.

Jak Carroll, co-ordinator of the Diploma of Sport Management course at the Tweed campus and Kokoda participant said that completing Mini Kokoda was ideal preparation.

¿It is set over the same course and takes in all seven of the creek crossings as well as one big hill ¿ Page¿s Pinnacle,¿ he said.

¿It was about 4 degrees celsius when we started in the morning, so we also got a taste of some of the conditions we¿ll face, but everyone managed well and we¿re feeling in good form.¿

All participants have been taking their training seriously, undertaking demanding individual training programs that typically mean one to two hours training each day and an extra six to 10 hours at weekends.

Staff at Lismore have made good use of the Cynthia Wilson hill, Tweed staff have beaten tracks in and around the local area, while Coffs campus participants have taken a group approach, meeting almost every week for training.

The whole group also meets on the first Sunday of every month to complete a 20-30km long section of the course.

Jak said the four teams were looking forward to the main event.

¿The bright yellow SCU branded shirts definitely attracted some envious glances. They made us very visible and were great for the team spirit,¿ he said.

¿Now we¿re all set for the Challenge.¿

SCU staff taking part in the Kokoda Challenge are Dianne Hutchinson, Emma Palmer, Lisa Caswell, Ruben Hillier, Felicity Abotomey, Robert Baglin, Jak Carroll, Val Morrison, Trina Collinge, Steve Cooper, Kazia Lombardo, Steve McFarlane, Cameron Phillips, Aaron Silk, Trevor Davey, Louise Timberlake.

A number of other staff, including Renee Valk, Jill Dombrow, Carol Laskey and Jan Murphy, are also acting as support crew for the event.

Photo: Getting in some training are some of the Southern Cross University Kokoda Challenge participants, from left, Robert Baglin, Emma Palmer, Felicity Abotomey, Jak Carroll, Dianne Hutchinson and Lisa Caswell.

Updated: 10 July 2008