Big nationals haul for Ramblers

They returned with fistfuls of medals but the focus for Tauranga Ramblers' next generation of stars is firmly on the future.
The club had one of its best-ever medal hauls at the national athletics championships in Dunedin over the weekend, bringing home five gold medals, including Kodi Harman's M16 sprint double.
And while Harman, Mariah Ririnui and Joseph Millar led the sprint charge, it was the medals in a variety of events which impressed club officials, capped yesterday when Julian Oakley nailed the M19 1500m title.
Oakley beat Jonathan Jackson to win in 4mins 1.38secs, adding to an 800m silver medal on Saturday, after perfect tactics suggested by coach Gareth Hyett.
"Gareth told me just to go out near the front but not to go too hard," Oakley said. "With a lap to go, I was in a pretty good position sitting in second or third and I took the lead with 300m to go. Jonno Jackson was right on my shoulder but I knew where he was and I managed to kick clear."
Ririnui also impressed, fading to fifth in her favoured W19 long jump but grabbing an emphatic 100m win. It capped a long comeback, after nearly breaking her ankle playing netball last year.
"I'm so happy to have finally taken that out because it's been a while since I had the 100m title," Ririnui said. "It was a bit of a role-reversal from last year when I won the long jump and got fifth in the 100m but I'll take it."
Mount College student Harman, 16, won Friday's 100m in 11.42secs, beating Auckland's Dalton Coppins by 0.08sec into a big head-wind, and took comfortably took out yesterday's 200m in 21.93.
"I had a big tail-wind in the final and I won't really claim it as a PB - though it was pretty happy to go under 22secs for the first time," Harman said. "It's been a great last month, that's for sure."
Michael Cochrane won the M19 110m hurdles, though he dipped out in the open 400m hurdles to Auckland rival James Mortimer.
Joseph Reynolds grabbed silver in the M16 high jump, beaten only on countback by Jordan Peters (Auckland) after clearing 1.96m, while 14-year-old Abby Goldie was third in the W16 200m, still with two years to go in that division.
Luke Davison was third in the M16 javelin, throwing 54.30m, and fifth in the shot put, while Millar finished a valiant third in the M19 100m despite struggling with a back injury in his build-up.
"We were delighted with the performances but there were a few near-misses too," Tauranga Ramblers president Malcolm Taylor said. "We could've done a lot better and that's a good sign for the future of the club."