Field stars on world stage

Our athletes competing overseas have done us proud with top billing going to Matt Field competing in the World Transplant Championships in Spain.

With temperatures around 40 degrees each day, Matt’s performances were outstanding winning the long jump, finishing second in both the 100m and high jump and finishing fourth in the 200m.

He was also fourth fastest qualifier in the 400m heats, but with the high temperatures he elected not to compete in the final to conserve energy for his other events.

Matt was the second fastest qualifier in the 100m heat running 11.93s, the first time Matt had bettered 12 seconds.

Better was to come in the final where, despite Matt being disappointed with his start, he ran a brilliant 11.27s. A very big PB for second with the winner setting a world record of 11.10s.

The 100m final took place in between Matt’s first and second long jump attempts, not ideal event timing.

In the high jump Matt was second on countback missing at 1.55m after clearing 1.50m. High jump was a new event for Matt and he received favourable comments on his style.

I know a lot of work went into achieving these results and Matt is certainly an inspiration to us all. He is grateful to his sister for giving him that second opportunity at life.

Anne Thomson, who coaches Matt, posted that she was also proud of all the athletes, parents

and officials who helped Matt reach his goal. They trained with him even when his reps were not quite what their training schedule said.

They encouraged him and gave suggestions on how he could improve.

At the Oceania Championships in Suva, Ben Langton-burnell took out the Javelin.

Tessa Webb won the under-18 3000m race and was second in the 2000m steeplechase.

Ariana Blackwood was second in the heptathlon and third in the 400m hurdles.

Former club member Ashleigh Sando was third in the long jump.

Feilding Moa had considerable success at the North Island cross-country championships held in Taupo in very cold conditions last Saturday with the club being second in the club competition. Shane Reed third, Hayley Cornwall second and David Scott third were grade podium finishers.

There has been some longawaited progress on the resurfacing of the Manawatu Community Athletic Track with confirmation that the University Tender Board have approved the resurfacing budget and that the project manager is now to approch the preferred supplier.

We are eagerly a waiting the expected timeline so that we can make plans for the period the track will be out of action.