Champs show depth of talent

TEAMMATES: 4x400m Senior Boys silver medallists Sam Merson (left), Charlie Waddy, Harry Symes and Connor McErlich epitomise the value of relay and team programmes.PHOTO/ALEC MCNAB

In analysing results from the New Zealand Secondary Schools Track and Field and Road Race Championships in Timaru at the start of the month I was reminded of the size and depth of competition at this annual event.

All 113 schools returned from Timaru with at least one medal, a further eight schools gained a medal in the Para section only. The schools came from every part of the country, from Kerikeri in the north to Southland in the south.

Auckland Grammar School with 13 medals (not including Para-events where they gained an additional medal) headed the medal table (4 gold, 7 silver and 2 bronze), Wanganui Collegiate School with 11 medals gained the second-highest medal total (3 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze medals) with Kings High School in Dunedin gaining 9 medals (4 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze).

In the more traditional medal count, where gold medals are considered first, Auckland Grammar School again headed the table followed by Kings High School, Westlake Boys High School (8 medals: 4 gold , 3 silver and 1 bronze) , St Peters College from Auckland (5 medals: 4 gold and 1 silver). Wanganui Collegiate were next with three gold medals in the eleven medals gained heading a small group of four schools who also won three gold medals.

The Wanganui Collegiate total was helped by success in team events with two road race titles (Year-9 Girls and Senior Girls) and three relay medals (gold: Junior Girls 4 x 100m, silver: Senior Boys 4 x 400m and bronze in the Senior Boys 4 x 100m).

I have often in these articles highlighted the value of relay and team programmes as part of establishing a team culture and also as a development tool within the sport. On the final day in Timaru, with all eight Collegiate relay teams in Finals, it meant that 23 different athletes were in action in the final events of the two-and-a-half day programme. It also meant that 24 athletes of the 37 strong team made the long journey home with at least one medal in their luggage.

In those relay teams only Harry Symes (Senior Boys 4x100 and 4x400) , Oliver O'Leary and Grace Godfrey (Junior Girls 4x100 and 4x400) ran in an individual final. Symes won a bronze medal in the Senior Boys 400m; Grace Godfrey finished one place shy of the medals with a personal best in fourth place and Oliver O'Leary who won silver in the Junior Boys 800m.

Being part of a relay team ensures a team spirit and as in the past with leading athletes such as Daniel Natusch (who still holds the NZSS Triple Jump record) and William Smart (400m winner last Saturday at the North Island Championships in Palmerston North) who got a kick start to their successful athletic careers from relays. The success in a relay team builds confidence and adds value and purpose to competing at the championships.

In the case of Grace Godfrey it compensated for the disappointment of coming so close to a medal in the individual 400m. For Harry Symes it helped add a further silver medal (4x400) and bronze (4x100) to his individual 400m bronze. All runners in the relays return next year and all have the potential to make significant progress as a team and as individuals.

Sam Merson has been a part of relays throughout his time at school even stepping in as a Year-10 to run in an injury-struck senior team that finished a very creditable fourth. In Timaru he ran personal bests in round 1 and in the semifinal of the 200m against strong head winds. He shows every likelihood of making an individual breakthrough next year in his final year.

In the Junior Girls, Olivia Seymour (who started mid-year as a Year-10) ran a personal best in two rounds of 200m. She did not make the final but the progress shown especially in the lead off leg of the winning 4x100 she demonstrated the potential to become a national class athlete. It was pleasing to see three leading athletes perform well in windy conditions at the North Island Championships in Palmerston North at the weekend. Harry Symes took the 100m-double (100m 11.31, 200m 22.67), Grace Godfrey won the 400m with her third sub-960 second performance (59.6) and NZ Schools silver medal-winner javelin thrower Opetini Dryden again lost narrowly to NZ winner Aiden Smith (Palmerston North).

I wish all readers a wonderful festive season and will return in the New Year with a look ahead to major events over the early months of 2016.