Top Otago awards for Robinson
HOLLY Robinson has capped a stellar season by claiming the top prize at the Athletics Otago awards.
The parajavelin thrower claimed the athlete of the year award, as well as paraathlete of the year.
It follows an impressive season for the 23yearold, who last month claimed silver in the F46 parajavelin at the Commonwealth Games.
There she threw a world record of 43.32m with her first throw, before being pipped by Hollie Arnold in the last round.
Robinson’s coach, Raylene Bates, won the coach of the year award.
The Paralympics New Zealand high performance manager, Bates’ athletes once again excelled on a high level. Alongside Robinson’s silver, she notably helped fellow javelin thrower Tori Peeters to extend her national record to 57m.
Peeters was recognised with the senior track and field athlete of the year award.
The junior track and field athlete of the year award went to Hamish Mears.
He won bronze medals in the youth and under20 shot put at the national championships, alongside winning bronze at the national secondary school championships.
Oli Chignell was named male winter athlete of the year, having won a national crosscountry title and put in some impressive performances locally.
Sammy Burke was the female winter athlete of the year on the back of claiming gold at the Australian secondary school crosscountry championships.
Liz Wilson was named masters athlete of the year.
Other awards went to Bevan Mears, Alex Merrilees and Mike Weddell.