Veitch shines in both track and field events

ATHLETICS

SHAY Veitch has shown his versatility both on track and field.

The Ariki athlete claimed the senior men’s title at the South Island combined events championships over the weekend at the Caledonian Ground.

His 6540 points left him 800 ahead of nearest rival Jared Neighbours, from Christchurch’s Old Boys United.

It was on day one he delivered his best points totals, predictably excelling in the 100m, 400m and long jump.

That opened a gap of over 1000 points, which the rest of the field could not reel in.

Meanwhile Cameron Moffitt’s 6492 beat Cole Gibbons in the under18 grade, while Rico Fisher edged Millar McElrea to claim the under16 octathlon title.

In the senior women’s heptathlon, South Canterbury’s Christina Ryan won the title, being the only competitor to finish.

Maddie Wilson, Sarah Langsbury and Jorja Gibbons were the only competitors in each of their grades to take the under20, under18 and under16 titles respectively.

A regular meeting ran alongside the championships.

New Zealand high jump record holder Hamish Kerr delivered the standout performance of the day.

The Old Boys United jumper cleared 2.16m to set a new Caledonian Ground record.

He was followed by fellow Old Boys United jumper Marcus Wolton, who also jumped a highly impressive 2.07m.

Dylan Forde, also of Old Boys United, delivered the pick of the track performances in the 800m.

He finished in 1min 56.30sec, beating Hill City University’s Josh Hou by just over a second.

Hill City University’s Rosie Elliott ran a handy time of 11.76sec in the 100m.

The Otago primary schools athletics championships were held at the Caledonian Ground yesterday. Five records were broken at the event. Alex Walker (John McGlashan College) threw 9.91m to put 84cm on the under12 boys shot put record, while Ruben Karawana (Balmacewen) broke the under12 boys discus by nearly 4m with a throw of 28.79m. Shanti Kara (Fairfield) jumped 1.50m to break the under13 girls high jump record of 1.44m, while Annabelle Batchelor (Balmacewen) jumped 1.47m to break the girls 13+ high jump record by 4cm. Zac Cunningham

(Taieri College) broke the boys under12 long jump record of 4.75m by jumping 4.81m. Photographer Christine O’Connor captured the action.

Shay Veitch

Scarlett Gillanders (9), of Abbotsford School, fills in time by doing an ‘‘aerial’’ while waiting for her turn at the long jump.

Boys in the 13+ long jump await their turn.

Kavanagh College’s Anamika Jones (13) attempts to clear the bar in the girls under13 high jump.

Sylvie Haig (10), of Fairfield School, takes off from the start line of the girls under10 60m sprint.

Jimmy Hinds passes the baton to Reuben Ure (both 9) for the Macandrew Bay School team in the boys under10 relay.

St Brigid’s School’s Madison Bryce (9) lands in the girls under10 long jump.

North Intermediate’s Harris Wilkinson (11) wins his heat in the under12 boys 75m.

Lee Stream School’s George Tisdall (12) throws in the boys under13 shot put.