MORE than a handful of Wanganui athletes have emerged as genuine medal contenders at the 42nd New Zealand Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships on home turf this weekend.
Of the 1450 athletes from 213 schools, including teams from Tonga and the Cook Islands, 77 have entered from six Wanganui district schools, making this year's event the largest in history outside the main centres.
Track and field competition will be held at Cooks Gardens, while the spectacle will also include the 40th Road Race Championship, to be run at Kowhai Park on Sunday.
The largest local entry is from Wanganui Collegiate School, with 64 athletes competing, and the bulk of the live chances hail from the school.
Geordie Beamish (Collegiate) is arguably the strongest hope, although he has the added pressure of being current title holder over 3000m. In his favour, he has an unbeaten record on the track going back 14 months.
Collegiate coach Alec McNab said being defending champ led to additional pressure for an athlete.
"A year ago, he was not favourite but went into that event with the confidence of some outstanding performances in the preparation period. This was largely unknown by his opposition," McNab said yesterday.
"Beamish will also run in the steeplechase, which is a straight final and, as it is six hours after his 3000m, he could surprise many in what is an event in which he is a novice.
"He may also be part of the Collegiate 4 x 400m team as Tim McKenzie has a hamstring injury, which places him in doubt for the A team."
McNab's extensive knowledge of form nationwide gives him an edge when tipping winners and placegetters.
"Decathlete Max Attwell will start in the long jump/high jump and 300m hurdles and will play a key role in the Collegiate relay teams, because there is no decathlon at the championships. The 300m hurdles is a relatively new event for Attwell, although in one of his five starts in this discipline he won the North Island Schools, and recent training suggests that he can run a fast time in this unfamiliar event," McNab said.
He also rated teammate Charlie McCartin, who also starts in the 300m hurdles.
"He was one place behind Attwell in the North Island Schools, although he prefers the shorter 110m hurdles, where he has a realistic chance of a medal.
"Lexi Maples will compete for High School in the 200m and goes into the championship following a good Tuesday evening run over 60m, and has a host of excellent training performances. She will also compete with a High School quartet in the 4 x 100m relay, while Brendan Berquist (Rangitikei College), who was a medal winner in the 100m at the North Islands, would like to end his school career on a high."
The 2000m road race at Tuesday's club night was a good final workout for road runners who will be competing on Sunday in Kowhai Park.
Many recorded personal best times over the distance, including event winner Charlie Waddy, second-placed Ethan Gillespie (who will run in the Year 9 boys race) and Alice Bird, who took another 2 seconds off her best time when home first of the girls. She was third in the mixed race. Other personal bests were set by Jazmin Phillips, Bruce Donald and Mia Gemmell.
McNab said Sam Merson would be an outstanding reserve for the Collegiate 4 x 100m senior team.
"Merson's excellent change with B teammate James Davis bodes well for the weekend."
Collegiate has enjoyed considerable success over the 4 x 400m relay and gained a Bronze medal at the first NZ Secondary Schools Championships back in 1973.