Young athletes take on NZ’S best
This week’s New Zealand Secondary School Track and Field Championship in Wellington pits Manawatu¯ athletes against the best in New Zealand.
St Peter’s College has a strong group of junior athletes and most of them are eligible to compete in this grade again next year.
Twins Addira and Chayille Collette compete in the 100 metre race and should be among the finalists. Former Palmerston North club member Sophiewilliams, from Whanganui Collegiate, must go in as the favourite. Her main rival is Naida Evans, the redheaded star of the Colgate Games when they were held in Palmerston North.
Kimberleywalsh will go into the 400m with one of the fastest times and her main rival will possibly be her good friend Monique Gorrie, who will represent Palmerston North Girls’ High School. Jayde Rolfe will also compete in the 400m.
The school has entered the 4x100m relay and is a definite medal chance. Madeleine Davey competes in the discus.
Girls’ High has Sammackinder competing in the senior long jump, javelin, high jump and 100m hurdles. She is joined in the high jump by Courtney Trow, whose younger sister Amber competes in the junior event.
Alice Cook contests both the junior long jump and triple jump, and Janae Laing the discus, shot put, hammer and javelin. Laine Satano joins her in the javelin.
The school will be represented in the road races by Kylah Gunn, in the year 9 event, with Georgie Furnell and Angela Jukes in the junior race. Furnell will also run the 3000m and Jukes the 800m. Monique Whiteman will run the senior 800m.
Benjaminwall will be Palmerston North Boys’ High School’s top chance, as he competes in the senior 1500m, joined by younger brother Liam.
Andre Le Pine-day, Robert Norman and Dirk Botha compete in the senior 800m. Guy Peterson is expected to do well in the senior javelin. The school has talented athletes in the junior grade too.
Angus Lyver has been among the top sprinters at club nights and must rate a chance in both the 200m and the long jump. Forbes Kennedy also performs well in the long jump.
Boys’ High has a strong tradition of doing well in relays, with teams in both the 4x100m and 4x400m junior races, and the 4x400m senior race. Boys’ High may combine with Girls’ High to compete in the mixed senior 4x400m relay, a trial event.
Freyberg’s sole entrant is Joseph Chamberlain, a definite prospect in the senior 400m.
Tararua College’s Leah Powick faces tough competition in the senior girls’ 100m and 200m.