Local athletes shine in regional contest

Ashley Exeter set a new national record in discus for F44 disabled athletes at Cooks Gardens on Saturday. Photo/Bevan Conley

Palmerston North discus thrower Ashley Exeter figured she had made a good throw at Cooks Gardens on Saturday when the officials started jogging over to each other and whispering intently.

The 18-year-old, who competes with a prosthetic leg, had just reached 28.92m, which was a new national record for the F44 class in disability sport F44 being women athletes with a single below knee amputation.

She is therefore categorised as an 'upper body thrower', as she competes with normal functions in her throwing arm, reduced function in her legs and slight balance problems.

Exeter said she was not expecting to make a new personal best, and the national record, at the Wanganui event.

"Today was more just a training day but it turned out better for me."

She had been born without a fibula in her right leg, which was amputated at age 3, and the Woodville farm girl took up discus as well as javelin and shotput after competing at school athletics in 2008.

Exeter has received training from Wanganui-based coach Richard Drabczynski and has the goal of qualifying in the discus for the 2016 Paralympics Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Her national record came during the regional athletics meeting involving all athletes from Wanganui, Palmerston North and Levin, although the regular contingent from Feilding had other commitments.

Events were held in Wanganui on Saturday and Palmerston North on Sunday.

Another Manawatu athlete to impress Wanganui athletic's coach Alec McNab was runner Scott Birch, who put in a strong effort despite windy conditions to take out the 400m race, ahead of Josh Ledger.

Birch, a New Zealand junior representative, had struggled with injury and health issues in 2013.

Amongst the locally-based or training competitors, Ben Langdon-Burnell moved up to second in the national rankings after an excellent day with the javelin on Saturday.

Langdon-Burnell threw a new personal best of 73.80m and also reached 73.78m on another attempt. No less than four of his throws exceeded the 70m mark.

"He found the wind conditions [beneficial], unlike the runners. He had a beautiful day for wind," McNab said.

Collegiate's Alice Bird looks in good form as she followed up a third placing in the 1500m with a personal best time of 7m 26s in the steeplechase, also moving to the top of the national youth rankings.

Decathlon competitor Max Attwell performed very well in the polevault and got a personal best in the long jump.

The weekend served as an important buildup for the NZ Track & Field Championships, which are in three weeks, and the North Island Schools championships.

The next challenge for the young local athletes will be the Wanganui Secondary Schools competition on Wednesday, with a 2pm start.