Throwers thrive at Titahi Bay club
Top shotputters Tom Walsh and Jacko Gill would both be smiling from ear to ear at the throwing talent coming out of the Titahi Bay Athletics Club.
Club representative Tina Tiumalu said last season was one of the most successful seasons for the club, with medal placings and records – notably for athletes competing in the throwing events.
At the annual Wellington Athletic Championships event held at Newtown Park in March, five Wellington championship records were broken by these young, talented throwers, she said.
‘‘Starting with gifted youngster Nelsson Tiumalu in the [under-8] shotput 1.5kg, throwing 9.57m,’’ she said.
This beat the record by more than a metre.
‘‘I’m told that this throw is not his personal best in athletic terms, so we will definitely watch this name coming through the ranks.’’
This was followed by his cousin Dante Ford-Tuveve throwing 33.39m in the under-9 discus. ‘‘Not only did he break the existing record throw of 30.70m, held for 24 years by rugby star Thomas Waldrom, this was the
CLUB REGISTRATIONS
Club registrations are being held at Kura Park: Friday, Oct 13, 5.30-6.30pm; Saturday, Oct 14, 9.30-11.30am; Friday, Oct 20, 5.30-6.30pm; Saturday Oct 21, 9.30-11.30am The club offers the athletics programme through the nursery grade, held on a Saturday morning, and the junior grade, age 7 to 15, held on a Friday night. The season starts in November with Regional Interclub Events. See https://www.facebook.com/ Titahi-Bay- Amateur-Athletic- ClubInc- first year that Dante has competed in athletics.’’
Nelsson and Dante also won gold in the discus and shotput events respectively at the event.
Va’a Tui won the under-10, 2kg shotput, and also won shotput gold in the North Island Colgate Games held in January in Hastings.
Tiumalu said Zion TriggerFaitele smashed the existing records by over 2m when he won gold in both the under-14 5kg shotput and the under-14 discus.
This followed him winning gold in the shotput and silver in the discus at the North Island Colgate Games.
‘‘To cap off the brilliant throwing season for the club, Nelsson Tiumalu and Zion Trigger-Faitele were both finalists in the junior boys throwers category at the Wellington Athletics Awards held in May.
Zion won the award, being named the 2017 Junior Thrower of the year, and Nelsson was the youngest finalist, a tremendous feat for an 8-year-old.