Central Hawke’s Bay athlete Caitlin Kirk claims steeplechase title at NZ Secondary Schools champs

Central Hawke’s Bay athlete Caitlin Kirk trains with Richard Potts, sometimes up to four times a week.

Central Hawke’s Bay athlete Caitlin Kirk has won a national secondary schools track and field title and beat a record she previously set.

During the NZ Secondary Schools champs held at the Mitre 10 Park in Hastings from December 5 to 7, Caitlin won the senior girls’ 2000m steeplechase in a time of 6m 57s.

She also achieved her pre-race goal of a sub-seven-minute run, breaking her Hawke’s Bay/Gisborne under 18 girls steeple chase record of 7m 2s she had set two weeks prior.

Central Hawke’s Bay College principal Lance Christiansen said Caitlin deserved all the success she achieved.

“She has quietly worked away over the years and showed a determination and the ability to learn and improve along the way.

“At times she has shown courage to step outside her comfort zone, push herself and aspire to achieve to the best of her ability.”

He said her success was an “absolute inspiration” to others, showing that perseverance has its rewards.

“She has also maintained her high academic standards and was an inspirational house leader this year.”

Caitlin, 17, said she loved the challenge of getting better at running, setting goals, achieving them and continually improving.

“Last year’s nationals didn’t go as well as I had prepared, so my goal this year was to achieve a podium finish.

“I was really happy to come away with the bonus of national champion.”

Caitlin said it was a special moment to be able to run in front of a home crowd, with friends and family cheering her on.

She said she was named in the NZSS Championship athletics team for 2025.

“This makes me eligible for selection into the Classics tour team 2026 and is named sometime after 15 December 2025.

“The tour itself is a New Zealand series of 3 events which kicks off here in Hastings, with the Potts Classic, on January 17.”

Caitlin said she trains with Richard Potts, who writes her weekly training plans.

“Living in Central Hawke’s Bay means my training is a mix of runs at home with travel to Hastings three times a week for group training.

“When big events get near, travel can be up to four times per week, so it has been a bit of a juggle between school commitments, training and now work.”

Caitlin said she was off to Massey University next year to start a degree in Sports and Exercise.

“While there, I am part of the Academy of Sport scholarship programme, so it will be an exciting opportunity for me.

“This has been a big decision with approaches from American university coaches, like so many of the girls I run against.”

She said for now she intended to continue training with Potts and represent Hawke’s Bay when selected.

Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.