A long-term goal for Te Puke middle distance runner Daniel Hintz is about to become a reality.
The lure of a full scholarship to a top American university has driven Hintz through plenty of ups and downs during his rapid rise to becoming New Zealand's top junior runner.
Hintz, who turned 19 on Sunday, finally got the news he wanted last week when he was awarded a full track and field scholarship to the prestigious University of Wyoming in Laramie, beginning in August.
"Full scholarships are rare and it is a lot of money. I will compete for the university and they pay all my degree fees and travel, insurance, you name it," Hintz said.
"I will be training with the US Schools 800m champion from two years ago and he is fast. He ran 1.47 which would beat the New Zealand record. The coach says the team is quite new so it is a really good time for me to enter the university."