“As a 14-year-old in Gisborne I saw how much Waikanae beach sprinter Briana Irving had been helped by surf lifesaving with her sprinting. How successful Casie Fyall (of Waikanae) has been also drew me towards it,” he said.
“I could see how much I would benefit from it, too, so I joined up.”
Irving went on to become a world youth champion beach sprinter in Adelaide last year while Fyall was second in the open women’s beach flags at the interclub world championships, also in Adelaide, among other national and international successes.
In his first season last summer, Seven made the semifinals of the under-16 beach sprint at the nationals in Gisborne, and finished ninth in the flags.
At the Whangamata Classic last month, he won the u16 flags and sprint, then did the same at the Champion of the Bays carnival at Ohope last weekend. He also won the u19 beach sprint.
“I am really pleased with the progress I have made since last summer.”
Seven trains seven days a week.
“Monday, Wednesday and Friday it’s speed endurance training, with heaps of 120 and 150-metre sprints, then a Kaiti Hill session on Saturday.
“The other days consist of flag training, followed by a power and strength session in the gym.”
He does about 18 hours a week training with clubmates at his sprinting discipline.
“The winter is about becoming fitter and stronger, and the summer is power and speed.”
Waikanae head coach Cory Hutchings said Seven was a strong prospect for the future.
“Seven’s very talented and only came into the movement a short time ago. He’s worked very hard all winter and has a really good work ethic.
“At Ohope, he outran the current New Zealand youth team’s male runner, who finished second in the world youth champs last year.”
Seven is also a Gisborne Athletics Club member and competed at the Colgate children’s track and field games up to the age of 13. He still runs regularly for the club.
“I use those runs as another training for what I am hoping to be able to do in surf lifesaving.”
His future goals include making the New Zealand Junior Black Fins team for the world championships in Italy in two years time.
“I definitely know I have what it takes to make that team.
“The keys to that success will be hard work, dedication and having the support of everyone around me, particularly my family, coaches and the Waikanae club.”
