Almost 400 of the region's secondary schools athletes will run, jump and throw, competing for 80 titles in three grades at Cooks Gardens today.
The event is the annual Whanganui Secondary Schools Athletic Championships, and while traditionally Wanganui Collegiate School have the biggest number of entries, there are healthy entriesfrom regional schools with good numbers from Rangitikei College, Nga Tawa, Ruapehu College and Taihape Area School. There are particularly big fields in many throws and long jumps that puts welcome pressure on officials.
Athletes who have performed well at New Zealand Secondary Schools in December, the Athletic New Zealand Championships 10 days ago in Dunedin and Colgate Games in January are likely to be prominent with NZ Youth representatives Opetini Dryden (javelin) and Grace Godfrey (400 metres) (both Collegiate) hoping for good performances. Similarly World Schools Cross Country athletes Christian Conder and Jane Lennox, who leave in a month for Hungary, have targeted this meet as part of their build up.
The schools championships always produces surprises with athletes previously not known beyond their own school often shining in their debuts, especially in the junior ranks. The injury to New Zealand Junior 400 metre medal winner Harry Symes throws senior sprints wide open and close battles are expected in the senior boys sprints from Matt Kleinsmith (High School) Adam Boult and Rayden Huwler (Cullinane) and Cody Hemi and Harry Unsworth (Collegiate).
Track action starts at 2pm with the first field event (senior javelin) at 12.45pm. Finals start at 5.15pm.
