Battle of the twins in sprint races
The Manawatu¯ Secondary Schools Athletic Championships lived up to expectation, with five meet records bettered.
Angus Lyver was awarded the Albert Pootjes Cup after his 6.86 metre long jump bettered the senior boys’ record, the stadium record and the Athletics Manawatu¯ Wanganui record for 16 year olds. He also won the 200m, high jump and javelin.
Equally impressive were the efforts of our intermediate grade sprinters, who set new records in all the sprint events.
Chayille Collette won the 100m and 200m, running 12.29 seconds in the 100m, which bettered the record previously held by her coach, Tara Rolfe.
Her twin Addira was second in both races, but her time in winning her 200m heat, 25.04s, was a new record.
Monique Gorrie won the 400m in 56.89s, another record, then we saw the St Peters 4x100m relay team of the Collette twins, Kimberley Walsh and Jayde Rolfe smash the record here, running 49.56s. That’s almost a second faster than the time they recorded in winning the national schools title in December.
In the junior girls’ events Eden Rolfe took out the 100m and 200m sprints, and was second in the long jump.
Hayley Cornwall continued her great form, winning the 400m, 800m and 1500m races. Queenie Morgan had success in the high jump and long jump.
Although the intermediate girls’ results were overshadowed by the outstanding sprint races, Lucy Mclean was impressive, winning the 800m, 1500m and 3000m races.
Amber Trow won the 80m hurdles and high jump, with Alice Cook taking out the long and triple jump double.
The senior girls’ 100m title went to Manawatu¯ College’s Shelby Wells, but she had to settle for second in the 200m, which was convincingly won by Courtney Trow. She also won the long jump and high jump. Emma Ferguson, from Nga Tawa, took out the 1500m and 3000m titles.
The junior boys’ titles were shared around, with Nehemiah Su’a winning the 100m and long jump.
Hunter Kennedy won the 200m and Taylor Hall the 400m, running an impressive 56.76s. Charlie Hook was first in the 1500m and 3000m events. Ryder Crosswell won the 80m hurdles and triple jump.
Forbes Kennedy was the standout in the intermediate boys’ event, going close to the long jump record with his 6.43m effort. He also took out the 200m in a swift 22.85s.
Dylan Calder won the 100m in 11.90s, with Braxton Kauri taking out the 100m hurdles and the 300m hurdles, an event in which he is the junior national champion.
Ha¯to Paora College’s Luke Te Moana won the senior boys’ 100m in an impressive 11.54s.
It was a different story in the 200m, where Angus Lyver clocked a swift 22.21s.
The 400m produced a close finish, with victory going to Dirki Botha in 52.45s. Te Moana was second in 52.61s and Aden Porritt third in 52.74s.
Alex Willis was an impressive winner in the walk.
Relays are always the highlight of the meeting. St Peter’s won the junior girls’ and intermediate girls’ races. The senior girls’ title went to Feilding High School.
Palmerston North Boys’ High School won the three boys’ relays.
Congratulations to the host schools, St Peter’s and Ha¯to Paora, on a brilliantly organised meeting.
Last weekend several of our younger athletes travelled to Wellington and competed in the second day of the Wellington Junior Championships.
In the girls’ 12 grade events,
Juliet Mckinlay was third in the long jump, with a personal-best 4.56m.
Mila Stassen won the girls’ 10 long jump and 400m, and was second in the 100m. Alina Rizvi achieved a personal best in the long jump, as did Zac Wormgoor in the discus.
Angus Cadzow won the 60m and 200m.
These are outstanding results and I’m sure these athletes will be prominent in the Athletics Manawatu¯ Wanganui Children’s Championships at the Manawatu¯ Community Athletic Track tomorrow.
The Athletics NZ Championships are in Hastings this weekend and, after the decision not to include the under-18 grades, local participation is down.
Ben Langton-burnell is expected to win the javelin title, while Jack Lewer is favoured in the para shot put.
Kara Macdermid is a good chance in the senior women’s 1500m, while in a strong senior men’s 1500m Benjamin Wall and Noah Macdermid should be prominent.
Courtney Trow and Sam Mackinder are in the under-20 high jump. Mackinder is also competing in the javelin and hurdles.
Both events have small fields, making her a definite medal prospect.
Zac Topping should be in the mix in the senior men’s 100m.