Making athletics team sport

St Peter’s School placed first for female and second for male at the Central Zone Athletics Championships.

The results were calculated by Sport Waikato based on points earned across all track and field events in all age groups - junior, intermediate and senior.

Each school earned points for every 1st - 6th placing.

Run by athletics coaches Jess Patrick and Ange Russek, the St Peter’s athletics programme is coached in speciality squads - sprint and relay, middle distance, hurdles, jumps and throws.

The programme suits each athlete’s event, stage of development, goals and strength.

The school topped the region in the raw score (overall points for the day across all age groups) and the roll score, which was the total points divided by the school roll.

‘‘We have proven results, and we believe we can continue to develop future athletes to medals if they are committed to the programme.

‘‘We go out of our way to sup- port them out of school hours in training, mentoring and attending meets with them,’’ said Russek.

As well as getting great results locally and regionally, St Peter’s focuses on developing the athlete from a junior level through to national representation level.

‘‘We are big on culture, training and supporting each other at every session.

‘‘Athletics is an individual sport, however we create a team environment that both parents and athletes engage with,’’ Russek said.