As outlined in recent articles the North Island Secondary School Track and Field Championships was not only successful for Whanganui athletes but was also a logistic and organisational success and was of economic benefit for the City.
The logistic success came about because of the huge help from so many volunteers and the athletes' success from the coaching support and the efforts of the Athletic Club to provide an environment that success is a likely outcome.
The work of the many volunteers helped provide the stage that our young performers were able to produce 33 podium performances and a whole raft of personal bests.
Over 80 adult volunteers helped with a similar number of young helpers, mostly from Wanganui Collegiate School.
We were delighted that the Lion Foundation was able to support our funding application to provide accommodation for visiting officials at the championships. This support helped ensure we had enough qualified officials who were grateful for this support.
I would like to pay tribute to the hard work of the Athletics Wanganui committee who all make a huge contribution not only around the committee table but physically week in, week out at club nights and at major meetings.
Our Treasurer, Michael Dwyer, not only keeps the accounts in order for both the club and the Manawatu/Whanganui Centre, but operates the photo finish at all meetings. Secretary, Richard Drabczynski, is not only a leading throwing coach but also officiates at all meetings when he would much rather watch from the side as a coach.
Paul Duxfield is involved all year in the sport, track and field in summer and cross country in winter. He is at the track early every day at major meetings to lead a small team for set up ably helped by the tireless Mark Cressingham.
Paula Conder is another who is a member of both the Wanganui Harrier Club and athletic club committees and at the recent North Island ran the important Technical Information Centre along with Jodie Brunger.
Jodie played a huge role in the organisation of the North Island Schools including important liaison with Sport Whanganui.
When we all reflected back on the meet on the Monday following she was back at Cooks so ably organising, as she does every week, the successful children's club evenings. Kath Edwards not only looked after and organised the medical side of the North Island and other meetings, but also officiated in Long Jump. We are also grateful for the support of Russel Sears and Kevin Ross and the Sports Heritage Trust throughout the season.
As indicated earlier it is this sort of support that has allowed our talented young athletes the opportunity to prosper. In the first of two articles I will look back at the season and highlight leading athletes.
The outstanding Athletics New Zealand rankings provided by Dr Steve Hollings has been invaluable in this process. This week I will look at sprints, jumps and next week I will review the remaining disciplines.
Genna Maples had an outstanding season and heads our female sprinters. In December she won the New Zealand Schools junior 100m and Long Jump was second in the 200m and was in the New Zealand Secondary Schools record-breaking Collegiate School 4x100m and 4x400m team.
In March she won the New Zealand under 18 100m and 200m and in the process overturned the New Zealand Schools result. She was in the winning 4x400m team and took silver in the Long Jump. At North Island she won the 100m, 200m, Long Jump and was in the winning 4x100m team.
She ends the summer season topping the under 18 rankings in 100m, 200m and is second in Long Jump.
Her training partner Tayla Brunger tops the 400m rankings winning the New Zealand under 18 400m title and also the North Island title. Brunger finished second to Maples over 200m at both the New Zealand and North Island champs and is ranked 4th in the half lap event. Brunger is kept very honest by Emma Osborne who in December won the New Schools junior 400m and ranks 4th nationally.
Travis Bayler also ranks 4th in the male under 18 400m and it could only a matter of time until he makes his first step onto the podium. Former Whanganui athlete Harry Symes has made a great start to his senior career taking silver at the New Zealand Championships and finishing second on the senior rankings.
Olivia Seymour makes her first appearance in the under 20 rankings ( 8th in 200m) while year 9 athlete Sophie Williams who came second at North Island over 100m and 200m enters the rankings as 11th in the former.