The usual suspects were at play in the Whanganui Secondary Schools Athletics Championships at Cooks Gardens

The usual suspects were out to play refreshed and winning again at the Whanganui Secondary Schools Athletics Championships at Cooks Gardens yesterday.

Most of the 19 athletes that represented Whanganui at the Jennian Homes New Zealand Track and Field Championships in Christcurch over the weekend had picked themselves up to represent their schools at the home town meet.

The likes of national champion Liam Back, classy distance Whanganui High School runner Rebecca Baker, Collegiate sprinters Sophie Williams, Genna Maples, Tayla Brunger, Sophie Redmayne and Ana Brabyn were, as expected in-form.

Daylight seperated Back and his rivals in the open boys 3000m final where he clocked a very creditable 8.49.49 for the trip, while Baker clocked 10.32.72 beating Collegiate's Sarah Lambert who ran 10.47.57.

Brabyn easily won the intermediate girls 400m final in 1.00.78, while Maples continued her good run of form from the nationals in the long jump and again over the shorter sprint distances on the track.

In-depth coverage of the meet will appear in Alec McNab's next Athletics Insight column.