Athletics: Injury turns focus from cricket to athletics

Christian Leopard laces up for another training session at Napier's Marewa Park last night. Photo/Glenn Taylor

Christian Leopard's surname is appropriate ... this bloke has got wheels on the athletics track and around crosscountry courses.

The 16-year-old Napier Boys' High School Year 12 student surprised pundits when he was selected in the New Zealand Secondary Schools senior boys crosscountry team last year as a Year 11 student to race in the under-18 age group at the Australian Secondary Schools Championships in Hobart after less than eight months experience in the sport.

Last week, he took his element of surprise to a new level at the East Coast Secondary Schools athletics championship in Hastings.

In just his fifth 3000m race, Leopard took 7.36s off Eric Speakman's senior record with a time of 8m 45.13s to become the country's fastest youth male this summer. Speakman set the record five years ago before heading to the United States on a university athletics scholarship.

Leopard also won the senior boys 1500m race. What adds to the significance of this double and his selection as the senior Male Athlete of the Meet is the fact Leopard had been able to train for only six weeks after a series of cricket and athletics injuries.

"Cricket was my main summer sport until December. But then I was forced to give it away because of a back injury and athletics became my main focus," Leopard said.

A promising batsmen and handy pace bowler, Leopard, was on the verge of Central Districts under-17 selection and had been training through the winter to enhance his chances before he was forced to farewell the willow and leather.

"I have to thank physio Tony Snell for sorting my body out on a regular basis so I can continue with my athletics," Leopard said.

The Bruce Smith-coached Leopard, who is in only his second year of track and field, set a school record of 9m 06s for the 3000m this year. This surpassed the time set by Daniel Wallis, another Bay product with experience in the United States system, in 2004.

Leopard hopes to head to the US on an athletics scholarship in 2016. During the coming weeks he will have opportunities to further boost his chances of scoring one.

On March 29 and 30, Leopard will represent his Napier Athletics Club in the youth 3000m and 1500m events at the national interclubs in Wellington and the following weekend will tackle the 3000m and 1500m at the North Island Secondary Schools championships in Masterton.

"I'm expecting his 3000m time to improve at these meets as he won't have to run alone like he did last week in Hastings," coach Smith said.

"Gold is the goal in the 3000m in Wellington and I'm aiming for a medal there in the 1500m, too," Leopard said.

"Because I'm up against Year 13 athletes in Masterton personal best times will be the goal. If I can get down to 8m 40s for the 3000m and 4m flat for the 1500m I will make the New Zealand Development squad."

The Kukri Clothing and Smith Shoes-sponsored Leopard trains for 70 minutes six days each week. He completes up to 50km a week during the summer and 70km a week during the winter when he is training for crosscountry.

In Hobart last year, he finished 24th in a field of 190, despite competing against athletes two years his senior. He hopes to qualify for the same Australian crosscountry event when it is held in Perth in August.

"Basically, I do the crosscountry stuff to keep me fit in winter for the track stuff in summer," Leopard said.

One of several handy athletes in his family, Leopard, said sticking to a good-quality diet is another key to his success. And another?

"I'm a big fan of Mo Farah [Britain's Somali-born Olympic and world 10,000m champion] and Galen Rupp [a United States Olympic Games silver medallist in the 10,000m].

"I watch DVDs of them every night before I go to bed for inspiration."