Athletesmake handy start to year
The first clubmeeting of the new year waswell attended, particularly by those heading to Inglewood to compete in the North Island Colgate Games at the weekend.
I have been impressed with the efforts made by these children and the club in the preparation for this event.
We are fortunate to have some of the top coaches in the country and theirwillingness to give their time to help the children gain more confidence is sure to provide some good results.
These sessions not only reward the athletes but also provide a source of satisfaction for the coaches as can be highlighted by a social media comment from Anne Thomson who said:
‘‘What awonderful group of positive athletes at our last long jump training. All of youmade the most of practice and showed improvement on all aspects of your jump.
‘‘At Colgate Games enjoy jumping the way you did at training.’’
Building confidence is important for these athletes so the sessions conducted will prove invaluable in knowing how to get your run-up right for the long jump or high jump.
Knowing when to take off for a relay change and how to set up for a sprint are all things that can make a difference on the day.
I loved the introduction George Mcconachy gave at the start of the open women’s sprint, announcing each athlete from lanes one to five as being gold medallists from the New Zealand secondary school championships.
It shows what talentwe have at the club.
We had Monique Gorrie, the 400-metre champion, plus the St Peter’s College 4x100m relay team of Addira and Chayille Collette, Jayde Rolfe and Kimberleywalsh all on the start line and, as per normal, producing great racing.
An interesting asidewas seeing the twins’ father, Vern, line up in the men’s events and I expect there may now be some friendly rivalry as to whom will be faster each night.
I amnot 100 per cent certain but I think it may have been 1-all, with the twins faster in the 60m but Vern quicker over 100m.
Looking at the results of those going to Inglewood, Juliet Mckinlay was impressivewith her display over the 80m hurdleswith a good stride pattern between most of the hurdles.
Tane Garcia-soto, who competes in the boys’ 7 events, won the 60m, 100m, 400m and long jump, with Angus Cadzow finishing second in each of these events.
Niamh Carr and Greer Robinson had good battles, sharing wins in their sprints and both recording good distances in the long jump.
Mila Stassen was another to have a good night, winning the 60m, 100m, 400m and high jump.
As well aswinning his 60m and 100m races, Ashton Dorn alsowon the high jump.
Tayler Trow cleared 1.39m, winning the high jump.
In the senior events Kara Macdermid was paced by her brother, Noah, running 4 minutes 28.08 seconds for the 1500m and helped Daniel Cooper through to 4m 32.41s.
In the 400m Josh Ardenem ran 50.39s, heading off Brayden Grant in 51.17s and Dirki Botha in 52.34s, while Leah Powick won the women’s event in 61.85s ahead of Georgia Whiteman’s 62.29s.
■ Tomorrow is the first evening of the Manawatu¯ Striders super seven series, which attracts hundreds of families to get out do some exercise.
Held over seven weeks, it gives participants a good opportunity to try to improve their time each week.
This series should be a good complement for the Saturday morning park runs.
■ For the more serious athletes, there are some important events coming up and they should get their entries in.
On Saturday, January 23, the Allan and Sylvia Potts Classic will be held in Hastings.
This is an event very close to my heart and one I amhappy to have been associated with for many years now. Sylvia Potts grew up in Palmerston North and the Potts family havemade amassive contribution to sport in the region.
On January 30, the Cooks Classic is in Whanganui.
Both these meetings are area permit meetings. Sandwiched in between these two meetings is the iconic jumps to music meeting in Ha¯wera on January 27.
It is great to see Palmerston North athletes support this meeting with sisters Courtney and Amber Trow entered in the high jump, and Angus Lyver and Forbes Kennedy among the long jump entries.