Medal haul for Lewer
During the past week, three members of the Palmerston North Athletic and Harrier Club have been in Sydney competing at the Australian track and field championships.
Jack Lewer proved to be the most successful competing in the F20 classification grade for Para athletes. He took home the silver medal in the shot put with a best effort of 11.02m and the bronze medal in the discus with a 28.04m throw.
These championships would have provided Lewer with some much-needed competition and he can be proud of his achievement.
High jumper Hamish Kerr had to be satisfied with his fifth placing, clearing 2.15m in a tight competition. He was clear in the lead up, but failed his three attempts at 2.18m.
Two of the athletes who finished ahead of Kerr were Olympians.
Fifth place was also the result for Ben Langton-burnell in the javelin.
His first-round throw of 76.90m was his best of the competition and initially he was in second place and at the cut off for additional throws Ben was sitting in third place.
Unfortunately two of his rivals produced their best throws of the competition in the final round and with Ben fouling his final attempt, he wasrelegated to fifth.
This weekend 56 secondary school athletes will represent Manawatu at the North Island secondary schools track and field championships in Inglewood.
I’m certain these athletes will relish the opportunity to compete on Inglewood’s recently refurbished track, a stark contrast from the condition of the track they competed on during the Manawatu championships the other week.
With the Inglewood track surface being a surface like those under consideration for the Palmerston North track resurfacing, there will be much interest in the performances at this meeting.
I would expect to see some great performances from Benjamin Wall, the standout athlete from the Manawatu championships, to continue this form and be to the fore in both the intermediate 1500m and 3000m races.
Tessa Webb is another who we will look forward to seeing do well in both the 2000m hurdles and the 3000m.
Harrison Porritt is one that could fly under the radar and I would not be surprised to see him win the senior 800m.
We have a talented group of high jumpers and I am expecting to see good results here.
Lea Muetzel is a national medallist competes in the senior girls event, Sam Mackinder and Ranae Saville are strong contenders in the intermediate event, while Courtney Trow is our junior entrant.
In the intermediate boys event, we have Mark Seumanu and Josh Pakai.
Lydia Bamford medalled at the national championships in the triple jump and must be in contention for a medal in the senior girls event. She will also contest the long jump and 100m.
She is joined in the sprints by Juliet Bonner, but it is hard to see East Coast’s Georgia Hulls being beaten here.
Courtney Walsh has been working hard and is sure to do well in the hurdle events. It’s been a long journey back from her injury and the effort she has made is certain to pay off.
Kyra Tikitiki has been very competitive in the open sprints at club night and is sure to do well in the intermediate grade events.
Our junior girls talent is cause for excitement, with Atareta Mccausland -Durie expected to be competitive.
Emma Leader will be one to watch in the 70m hurdles and in the long and triple jumps.
However, Whanganui’s Genna Maples is a class act and is expected to take out the 100m, 200m and long jump.
Ashleigh Gunn is a strong contender to medal in both the 800m and 1500m.
Bradyn Popow competes in the open walk and is sure to be very competitive.
Jack Nesdale has been throwing well so could surprise in the senior discus.
The Manawatu team has entered relay teams for all events and expect them to be very competitive.
At national schools level, Palmerston North Boys’ High School have proven to be very successful and I suspect some of their combinations will form the nucleus of the boys teams .
It is always great to see the region represented in the Para events and with Jack Lewer fresh from his success in Australia, he must go in as a firm favourite in the senior discus and shot events.
Brayden Kendall and Jamie Davidson complete the local line up, with Kendall competing in the junior 100m, 200m, long jump and shot put and Davidson the 100m 200m and shot in the senior grade in the PA11 grade junior events