Personal-best times for Gisborne athletes

MEDALLED: Jack Sadler with the bronze medals he won at the North Island Colgate Games in Auckland for the 12-year-old boys’ 200 metres and 400m, and Hannah O’Connor with the silver medal she earned for second place in the 10yr girls’ 800m, and a finalist’s ribbon, at the South Island Colgate Games in Timaru. She was fifth in the 1500m and ninth in the 400m. Picture supplied

ALL Gisborne athletes competing in the North Island Colgate Games this month produced personal-best efforts.

The 40th-anniversary Games were held in Auckland and, for the South Island, in Timaru.

At the North Island meet, Evelyn Busher, Jack Sadler, Hinerauiri Cotter-Luke, Hannah O’Connor and Ahenata Cotter-Luke achieved personal bests in their events.

Highlights of the North Island leg inluded Jack’s two bronze medals in the 12-year-old boys’ division.

He was third in the 200 metres in a time of 25.76 seconds and third in the 400m in 1 minute 19 seconds — significant achievements for someone who started athletics only in November.

Another highlight was Hinerauiri’s fifth placing in the 12yr girls’ 80m hurdles.

Hannah O’Connor was the sole Gisborne Athletic Club representative at the South Island games.

She was second in the 10yr girls’ 800m in 2 minutes 48 seconds, a time 13 seconds quicker than her previous personal best, which she achieved at the Auckland event.

In Timaru, Hannah was also fifth in the 1500m and ninth in the 400m.

As manager of the Gisborne Athletic Club team, Amy O’Connor made sure the athletes were organised and supported for their events.

The Gisborne and Wairoa athletic clubs supported each other well, and the athletes were already looking ahead to the 2019 Colgate Games, to be held in Hamilton and Dunedin.