Athletics: Young provincials prove prowess

Sixteen-year-old Scott Gregory practising his hammer throw. Photo / Francesca Jago

Northland junior athletes Jordyn Hetaraka and Nikolas Kini are showing that a little competition between friends can lead to success on a national scale.

The two 12-year-olds tasted success at the recent North Island Colgate Games in Wellington and look set to continue their beneficial rivalry in the future.

Kini, of Whangarei, won the gold medal for Grade 12 discus, just beating Hetaraka, of Rawene, who took silver, both throwers beating the other competitors by about 10m.

Heteraka then went on to win the shot put with a throw of 11.83m with Kini finishing fourth - not a bad effort for two provincial kids.

The two are coached by recently turned 16-year-old Scott Gregory, who, in turn, is coached by Ian Babe and Robin Ball.

Gregory has been smashing national age-group records in the hammer while excelling in the other throwing disciplines and his young proteges have begun to emulate him.

Last week Hetaraka travelled to Dunedin with his father and won gold medals in both discus and shot put at the South Island Colgate Games. With a huge effort he surpassed an attempt by Southland champ Uilealea Lavea of 12.49m with his own throw of 13.10m. It was a new personal best and Northland grade 12 record as well.

Hetaraka's mum Belinda said the family was extremely proud of the young thrower's success after plenty of hours spent getting him to training from their Rawene home.

"His father drives him down to Whangarei Athletics 2-3 times per week to train in the shot put and discus ... after he showed a natural talent at last year's Colgate Games, to give our eldest son Jordyn the opportunity to further develop his talent and we are extremely proud of his efforts this year."

Hetaraka also earned selection into the under-13 Northland representative rugby league team, the Northern Swords last season. Athletics is turning into a real family affair with his younger brother Braedon having success winning a gold pennant in his 7-years-old discus event, while sister Jaime won the 8-years-old gold pennant for shot put and sister Emma achieved eighth in a field of 24 athletes in the 10-year-old event.

The promising junior athlete's next major event will be the Northland junior championships in March and he will be a member of the grade 12 and 13-year-old team representing Northland in the Inter-provincials in Hamilton during Easter.