Canty high jumper heading quality field for memorial meeting

ATHLETICS

SEVERAL of the South Island’s top athletes are set to descend on Dunedin next week.

Monday evening’s Yvette Williams Memorial Meeting has so far attracted a field of 49 athletes, which boasts plenty of quality within it.

The meeting, to be held at the Caledonian Ground, will consist of many of the events the late Otago Olympic long jump champion competed in.

High jumper Hamish Kerr is the meeting’s big star.

The Canterbury athlete is the jointNew Zealand record holder in the event, his jump of 2.30m tied with

Howard’s mark.

He also attended the last world championships and has an eye on Olympic qualification.

The men’s long jump also brings together a handy field.

Otago duo Shay Veitch and Felix McDonald are among

Glenn

New Zealand’s top jumpers in the event.

Veitch is rapidly closing in on the Otago senior record, while McDonald is the reigning national champion.

Canterbury’s Takunda Mabonga will also compete to provide them with some top competition.

In the javelin, top decathletes Max Atwell and Jared Neighbours, both from Canterbury, will compete against Otago star Ethan Walker.

Paralympic silver medallist Holly Robinson will also compete in the javelin.

Otago middle distance star

Rebekah Greene will run in the 1000m, while Cameron Moffitt and Sarah Langsbury are among the school athletes on show.

It was hoped there might be some late entries.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 5.30pm. There will be free entry.