Schools stars set to shine
There is a strong Manawatu¯ contingent heading to the New Zealand secondary schools track and field championships in Hastings this weekend. Feilding High School have five entries with Jack Lewer favoured to win the senior PA II boys’ shot and discus titles.
Tessa Webb will be a top contender in the senior girls 1500m, 3000m and 2000m steeples.
Her best chance for a title could be in the steeple.
Paige Carnaby will contest the senior girls’ 100m and 200m, Josh Pakai the senior boys’ high jump and Jed Skelton the junior boys 3000m and the 4km road race.
Freyberg High School’s strength is in high jump, with Lea Muetzel and Ranae Savill both strong contenders in the senior girls’ event.
Theo Purdy is in the senior boys’ 6km road race and is sure to finish well up.
Ashleigh Gunn and Kaela Drew are both in the junior girls’ 400m and 800m.
Shaquille Mackey will run in the senior boys’ 100m and 200m.
Kyra Tikitiki is St Peter’s College’s sole entry and will start in the very competitive senior girls’ 100m and 200m.
Sam Mackinder is Manukura’s sole entry and she is a strong contender in the junior girls’ javelin, high jump and 80m hurdles.
Noah Macdermid has been running well and is Awatapu College’s hope in the senior boys’ 100m, while Brayden Kendall is a medal prospect in the senior boys’ PA II 100m and 200m.
Palmerston North Boys’ High School are always competitive in the relay events and have entered both the senior boys’ 4x100m and 4x400m.
Reuben Brown has produced some good results in the recent teams’ competition and is expected to do well in the senior boys’ long jump. He is also entered in the shot put.
Andre Le Pine-day is in the junior boys’ 800m and 3000m and could surprise. Jack Nesdale is in the senior boys’ discus. Matthew O’leary runs in the senior boys’ 400m and will no doubt be the anchor man for the 4x400 relay.
Guy Petersen has been impressive throwing the javelin. In the junior event, I wouldn’t be surprised if extends the school’s past successes achieved by Ben Langtonburnell and Aidan Smith.
Bradyn Popow is an experienced walker and despite being one of the youngest in the open 3km walk, is a definite medal prospect.
Aden Porritt is entered in the year 9 road race.
His older brother, Harrison, is on the comeback trail after undergoing heart surgery earlier in the year.
He is entered in the senior boys’ 800m, but is very much a day-to-day prospect.
Piers Savage is the school’s entry in the senior boys’ 100m and key relay runner.
Mark Seumanu is entered in the senior boys’ high jump and has some good clearances recently. He is also a handy relay runner.
VJ Tauli will find competing back in his age group to his advantage after recently performing well in open competition.
I expect to see him prominent in the junior 100m and long jump.
Benjamin Wall has entered both the senior 6km road race and the 1500m race.
He is expected to be in the mix in what is a very classy field.
Liam Wall is another who will appreciate competing against his own age group when he lines up in the junior 1500m after recent competition against older athletes.
Palmerston North Girls’ High School will be led by Lydia Bamford, who will contest the senior girls 100m long jump and triple jump.
The 100m will be one of the highlights of the meeting with a number of New Zealand representatives entered.
Lydia’s best event is likely to be the triple jump where she is definitely a title contender.
Emma Leader is a very talented young athlete but her preparation has been hampered by hamstring problems.
She is entered in the junior girls’ long jump, 100m, 200m and 80m hurdles.
Courtney Trow is part of the strong high jump training squad at the local club and while her performances have been overshadowed by the older squad members, she will come into her own in the junior girls’ category.
Olivia Devito Jones also competes in the event.
Jesse Falloon will run in the junior girls 100m and 200m, while Nicole Whiteman runs in the junior girls’ 400m.
I expect these races to be dominated by the very strong Wanganui Collegiate entries.
The school is strong in the javelin with To’oa Brown, Laine Mefiposeta Sat and Samara Southcomb all entered in the junior event.
Sarah Stewart and India Stewart-withers are running the road race and Meg Macgregor Dunn will jump in both the junior girls long and triple jumps.
■ What’s on.
November 28: Palmerston North Athletics, programme C.
November 8: Ashhurst Athletic club night.
November 29: Feilding Athletic club night.
December 1-3: NZ secondary schools championships, Hastings. December 2: Palmerston North Parkrun. December 5: Palmerston North Athletics, programme A.
December 5: Ashhurst Athletic Club. December 6: Feilding Athletic Club. December 9: North Island Champions, Inglewood.