River City athletes way out in front
Whanganui athletes were to the fore at the latest central teams’ competition round at the Manawatu¯ Community Athletic track.
The river city’s team comfortably took out the second-round competition, giving them an almost unassailable lead heading into the final round of the competition in Wellington next weekend.
They ended the day with 231 points, well clear of Palmerston North’s 155 and Taranaki’s 102. Whanganui now have a combined points score of 393 points, ahead of Palmerston North on 258 and Hastings on 248.
Whanganui have a talented group of young female athletes and dominated the track results.
There was an upset result in the 100 metres. Tayla Brunger took out the event in 12.23 seconds, ahead of Sophie Williams, 12.36, with Genna Maples completing the Wanganui trifecta in third place. Corinna Minko was the first Manawatu¯ runner home in fourth.
Kyra Tikitiki was second in the B grade 100m.
Maples bounced back from her 100m defeat to comfortably take out the 200m in 25.68, well clear of Williams, 26.61, with Pavinee Watson best of the locals in fifth. Leah Powick was third in the B grade race and Jayde Rolfe third in the C grade race.
There was a classy lineup in the 400m race, including Emma Osborne, the New Zealand secondary school titleholder, and Brunger, the New Zealand agegroup titleholder.
Osborne won in 57.22, ahead of Brunger, 58.82. Monique Whiteman was third in 61.91, ahead of Watson, 61.94s, with 13-year-old Monique Gorrie sixth in 63.08.
Perhaps one of the best performances came in the B grade race, won by 14-year-old Ana Braybn in 59.26, a time that would have placed her third in the A race. She later won the 800m in a time of 2min 20.16sec.
Sam Mackinder was one of Palmerston North’s big points contributors, finishing second in the 300m hurdles, second equal in the high jump, third in the long jump and first in the javelin.
The high jump was won by Leah Muetzel, with a 1.61m clearance. Mackinder cleared 1.55m and Courtney Trow had a 1.5m clearance for fifth.
In the long jump, Minko leapt 5.63m for victory. Mackinder’s best was 4.91m, with Yvonne Van Baarle’s 4.75m placing her seventh. Emma Leader had a best of 4.67m for ninth.
Zac Topping ran a classy 22.07 to win the 200m. Brayden Grant recorded 23.31 for fifth. Earlier, he finished fourth in the 100m, in 11.51.
Joseph Chamberlain won the 400m in 53.02m.
Jack Nesdale continues to churn out personal bests in the discus, with a best effort of 46.98m for second place.
Palmerston North were once again prominent in the relays. The men’s team took out both the 4x100m and 4X400m relays.
The Whanganui women’s team was too strong, winning both relays, with Palmerston North third in the 4x100m and second in the 4x400m.
❚ Jordan Peters was in Christchurch last weekend competing in the Rhythm and Jumps competition, where he took out the men’s long jump with a 7.28m leap.
He also took the opportunity to check out the new Nga¯ Puna Wai complex, the venue for this season’s national championships in March.
❚ An important notice to all children wishing to compete in the 2019 Colgate Games: Your entries need to be handed in this week.
Palmerston North entries need to be given to Shaun Popow no later than Tuesday night. Feilding and Ashhurst club members need to see their club secretary.
❚ The Manawatu¯ Striders have their popular Ashhurst to Esplanade run fast approaching and they advise that entries received after November 14 will incur a late entry fee.