Davis ready for Australian challenge
“I love the thrill of it and there is no question about how good someone is; if they are better than you, they’re better and if you want to improve it’s all on yourself, not others.” Ollie Davis
Standout Southland athlete Ollie Davis is all set for the biggest challenge of his athletics career to date – facing the Aussies.
The long jumper and sprinter is part of the New Zealand under-18 contingent set to face his Australian counterparts in Adelaide in the coming week.
Davis, a student at Central Southland College, said he was looking forward to the high-quality level of competition.
“It’s very exciting because the competition will be incredibly tough. There’s going to be a lot more competitors and it will be a higher level.”
Here in New Zealand, Davis competes in a lot of disciplines like long jump, which he is the under-16 national champ in, 100m, 200m and triple jump. However, in Adelaide he will be tackling long jump and the 200m.
“Long jump is my main event and I will do 200m as well for something extra. It’s a long way to go for one event. It’s a weeklong event. I am extremely excited to get over there but also incredibly nervous. I want to do New Zealand proud.”
He is heading to Australia for eight days with a whole new group of people and is excited to get to know more about his team-mates.
“I was shocked but in a good way. It took a few days for it to really sink in and for me to realise that I actually am going to represent New Zealand.”
He found out via email while the family were overseas on holiday.
Davis said his season had been solid without being spectacular, with him carrying a niggle.
“It’s been all right. I haven’t been improving as much as I hoped but hopefully, come Australia, I will be firing and prepared.”
The 16-year-old, who turns 17 in Adelaide, is amped to face up to his Australian opponents.
“It will be a great indicator to see how I am tracking against other competitors my age from throughout the world and to see what the competition is like.”
He had the national championships as a good buildup event for Adelaide and said it was now a case of staying in top condition as Australia approaches.
“I love the thrill of it and there is no question about how good someone is; if they are better than you, they’re better and if you want to improve it’s all on yourself, not others.”
Davis is full of praise of his coach Lance
Smith and the training squad he’s in, both of which have helped him reach the heights and distances he has.
“He’s an amazing coach. He wants to tell people and help them. He’s great.”
Davis has also managed to break two records at the Central Southland College sports day, in long jump and triple jump respectively.
He needed to beat 6.20m in the long jump and jumped a 6.50 to break Tim Baker’s eight-year-old record.
“It’s not my longest-ever jump but I was happy.”
In the triple jump, he smashed Adam Norman’s 2017 record of 12.99m with his effort of 13.24m.
“I was targeting them. Every age group has a record and I have every single long jump record since year 9. It’s cool seeing my name down the list. I have others here and there but long jump was the one I was going for.
“The records are cool to have and it looks good on your blazer.”