Laing’s feats land special award
A young South Canterbury athlete won a scholarship as one of the top performers at the South Island Colgate Games in Christchurch at the weekend.
William Laing of the South Canterbury Athletics Club (SCAC), who won gold in the 1500 metres and medley relay plus silver in the 400m and 800m was awarded one of the four Nick Willis Scholarships that go to the top performing athletes in grade 13 and 14 at each of the North Island and South Island games.
The 14-year-old Roncalli College student said he was ‘‘pretty stoked’’ with the award which was vouchers worth $500 for 2XU and $200 for Asic gear.
He won the 1500m in a time of 4 minutes 28.88 seconds and then combined with Hunter Tarrant, Monica McDonald and Niamh Motley to win the mixed distance medley relay in 4:11.32. He was second in the 400m and 800m.
About 1000 athletes aged between 7 and 14 competed in Christchurch with 45 from the South Canterbury clubs returning with numerous medals.
Temuka won a gold medal for the first time in more than 25 years, when Ethan Hole raced away with the grade 11 100m final, secretary Nicola Nimo said.
Craig Motley from the South Canterbury club said there had been some ‘‘amazing results’’ as they picked up 16 gold medals.
Toni Oudemans of the Waimate Athletics Club said their team of eight athletes comprised five juniors (under 10 year olds) and three over 10.
‘‘We had a number of podium finishes in the junior age group, Many of the children obtaining personal bests, which is what we strive for.’’
South Canterbury medal winners were
(Waimate results not available).SCAC
Day 1 – Gold: Madi Thomas (13) 1600 track walk; Emma Becroft (14) 80m hurdles; Charlotte Blake (11) high jump; relays (medley) grade 12, Alex O’Keeffe, Harrison Laing, Mia Donaldson, Evelyn Holden, Bella Thin; Grade 14, Hunter Tarrant, William Laing, Monica McDonald, Niamh Motley, Emma Becroft. Silver: William Laing (14) 400m; Harrison Laing (12) 400m; Kate Ritchie (13) 1600m track walk. Bronze: Charlotte Blake (11) shot put; relay, grade 13, Tom Geary, Archie Jones, Alysha Harding, Madi Thomas, Flynn O’Keeffe.
Day 2 – Gold: Niamh Motley (14) 1500m. Silver: Orla Motley (12) 1200m track walk; Flynn O’Keeffe (12) long jump; William Laing (14) 800m; relay, 4 x 100m girls (10) Sienna Franklin, Sophia Wright, Caitlin May and Erin
O’Keeffe. Bronze: Girls (11) Charli Collins, Sienna Wright, Meg Ritchie, Charlotte Blake.
Day 3 – Gold: Emma Becroft (14) 200m; Niamh Motley (14) 800m; William Laing (14) 1500m; Relay, 4x100m, girls (12) Holly Thin, Bella Thin, Mia Donaldson, Evelyn Holden. Silver: Mitchell Johnson (11) 400m; Meg Ritchie (11) 1200m track walk; Relay, 4x100m, boys (13) Lachlan List, Tom Geary, Hunter Tarrant, Flynn O’Keeffe. Bronze: Girls (14) Nora Quigley, Monica McDonald, Niamh Motley, Emma Becroft.
TEMUKA:
Gold: Ethan Hole, G11 boys 100m. Silver: Darcy Attridge, G11 boys 800m. Bronze: Ethan Hole, G11 boys long jump; 4x100m relay G11 boys, Darcy Attridge, Rhys Baker, Taine Nimo and Ethan Hole; medley relay G11, Ethan Hole, Antonella Henderson, Darcy Attridge, Ashley Rhodes and Rhys Baker.
GERALDINE
Gold: Ella Waldron grade 12 girls long jump. Bronze: Emma Campbell grade 11 girls 1200m race walk.