Whangarei speedster keeps focus on targets

Seventeen-year-old sprinter Euan Sapwell has the Commonwealth Games on his radar with coach Sue Price by his side.

Euan Sapwell isn't in the business of taking things slow.

The 17-year-old sprinter finished sixth in the final of the U20 men's 200m at the National Athletics Championships but has his sights on more than that.

"The Commonwealth Games are the next goal for me. I'm hoping to make a relay team or a run there," he said.

Euan Sapwell with his training partners. From left, Zack Chapman, Kerri Johnson, Euan Sapwell, Aria Chapman, Callum Sapwell and Canon Puriri. Photo / Supplied

"I was 0.03 seconds off my personal best time of 22.79 in the race so that was pretty good.

"Top-notch quality down there. Throughout all the age groups it's really competitive. It's all very even, it's hard to even make a final. Then you watch a guy like Joseph Millar who is just way in front of everybody."

Sapwell has been in the sport since he was a youngster - his parents took him down to Kamo Athletics Club when he was 4 and he hasn't looked back.

"My parents got me to run while I was down there because I had so much energy and they needed me to waste it in a good outlet," he said.

"Recently I got Sue Price as my coach and that has helped with my technique as well as developing that passion I have."

The art of sprinting is a delicate - and dedicated - one.

Sapwell said he was doing six sessions a week on route to the biggest athletics meet in New Zealand.

"Leading up to nationals, I was doing two to three sessions in the pool to build up fitness and two to three track sessions a week," he said.

"Track generally consists of either short sprints or longer 300-500m-style sprinting. There's also a lot of plyometric training involved."

And when he gets into a race, Sapwell says there is a battle of focus going on in his head.
"Before a race I'm focusing on making a good start because if you get behind early it's tough to make up the gap down the stretch," he said.

"During the race I'm trying to not focus on the other runners and worrying about my own race.

"Subconsciously you know the others are that much in front of you and you need to do so much more to get in front."

Now that his athletic season is over - bar the winter training - Sapwell has a bit more time to put into his other sporting endeavours.

He is a decent rugby player, his pace helping him no end, while also being a good swimmer.

"Last year I played for Whangarei Boys' High School's First XV and now I'm looking for a club to play for this year," he said.

"I'm coaching a junior sevens team at Boys' High and also a JB7 team.

"As a swimmer, I specialised in the 50m and 100m distances and I hold a few school and Northland records in the breaststroke."