Whiteman revels in big Wellington squad success

Athletics

Talented Carterton athlete Nathan Whiteman was part of the Wellington squad which convincingly took the major honours at the national interprovincial track and field championships for the 12-13yrs age group held at Aorangi Stadium, Timaru over the weekend.

A team of 44 represented the Wellington region with 11 boys and 11 girls selected in each of the two grades and for the second year in succession they won the Graham Vivian Interprovincial Shield, only this time by a much wider margin. In 2012, Wellington had just 70 points to spare from Auckland but in Timaru they were 4000 points clear of second-placed Canterbury.

Whiteman contested the 12yrs boys section in his specialist events of shot put and discus as well as the 400m and 80m hurdles and recorded personal best efforts in two of them, the shot put and 400m. Individual placings are still to be confirmed but it is understood he placed in the top eight in shot put and discus.

Overall, the Wellington 12yrs boys' score of 29,600 points was 3000 points better than any other side and was just short of the best-ever team tally recorded in that section since the competition began in 1979.

The Wellington 13yrs boys team also finished top of their points table, 1000 points ahead of Counties Manukau, while their 12yrs and 13yrs girls teams were second and third respectively.

Each of the athletes contesting the Timaru meet had to compete in four disciplines with the field-eventers having to compete in at least one track event and vice versa. Points were awarded for the distances and times they recorded with Wellington finishing on 118,682 points, Canterbury 114,745 and Waikato-Bay of Plenty on 110,191.

Other provinces taking part were Auckland, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay-Gisborne, Manawatu, Tasman, Otago and Southland.