Competitors shine at Dannevirke Athletics
It is the season for junior athletics achievements.
The Dannevirke Athletics Club has been busy recording the highest levels of achievement of each athlete as the season approaches ribbon events around the region.
Seven records have fallen in the last month and Wednesday February 19 was the last chance for Under 14s to break one in tackle javelin, triple jump and 400m.
In a remarkable family achievement Stephanie and Cameron Walker both created new 800m records on Wednesday. Stephanie added this to her 1500m record a week ago in the Under 20 division.
Cameron took out the 800m record cracking the time set of 2.17.0 secs by Craig Twentyman back in the 1993/94 season with a time of 2.16.6 secs.
Three days later they cleaned up all the distance events in the Dannevirke High School Athletics.
Cameron won the 1500m, 800m and 400m and coming second in the Boy’s Open 3000m while Stephanie achieved the same but winning the Girl’s 3000m and 200m .
The 1500m and 800m were run a week earlier at lunchtimes.
Both now go on with other athletes to the Hawke’s Bay Secondary School’s Athletics Championships in Hastings in a week.
Each has busy training schedules, Cameron’s complicated by having swimming and cricket training taking up four nights a week.
In the meantime other athletes have broken impressive records.
Ella Hogan broke records in the senior discus and shotput, Will Hogan in the Year 8 discus and Roydan Thompson in the long jump.
With specialist training in every event each Wednesday the youngsters are learning skills which are resulting in personal bests as well as club records.
Close to 70 youngsters are at the Domain each week with 20 adults in support.