Outstanding performances as NZ school champs loom

Charlie McCartin posted his first sub-15s in the 110m hurdles. PHOTO/ROB VAN DORT

It came as something of a shock to many athletes competing in the second club night of the season on Tuesday that there were only 45 days until the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships to be held at Cooks Gardens on December 6-7. With that in mind it was pleasing to note that there was a 30 per cent rise in participation compared to the opening night the previous Tuesday.

There were some outstanding performances on Tuesday evening, headed by Harry Symes' win in the 300m in a personal best time of 37.06s that in the process beat his older brother and Club Captain, Tom Symes. Tom is just coming back after an absence from the sport and should be pleased with his 38.13s effort.

Geordie Beamish had an effortless win in the popular 2000m Road Race. His time of 5m34.45s has been checked as it is probably a record over the course. Behind Beamish were Jamie Gillespie, Christian Conder, Louis Hogan, who all produced personal bests, with Alice Bird leading the women's section in the 22 strong field, in a time of 5m52.11s.

Decathlete, Max Attwell, had a busy night, winning the high jump in 1.80m coming very close to 1.90m, having passed at 1.85m. He won the 60m in 7.42s and the 100m from the aforementioned Harry Symes in 17.28s and also finished second to Collegiate team-mate Sam Donald in the Shot. Wasake Lewinilovo showed real promise in both the 300m and 150m and could add significantly to the depth in sprint events.

Charlie McCartin, although having to run on his own in the 110m, should be pleased with his first sub-15s clocking for the event, albeit hand-timed (14.9s). He hit a couple of hurdles, but demonstrated good technique and strength. In the women's 100m hurdle race, Myah Jex-Blake won in 15.7s and later went on to win the 300m in 44.67s. Her times will improve rapidly in the weeks ahead as this talented Year 11 athlete prepares for the national championships.

Eleven-year-old Genna Maples continued to defeat older runners in sprint events. She won the 60m in 8.68s, beating her brother in the process; she also won the 150m in a field of children including many boys in 20.37s.

It is pleasing that with fewer than seven weeks to go until the NZ Schools Championships there has been a very encouraging response to our appeal for volunteers. Sport Wanganui is still taking registrations from interested people and we will get back to them in early November.

In conjunction with this push for volunteers is the opportunity to receive basic officiating training which will allow volunteers out on the field to help with field events at the NZ Schools Championships. The short courses will be held at Sport Wanganui at 5.30pm starting this Tuesday, October 28 when the subject will be horizontal jumps.

The course will give basic information on an event, provide some food before a practical opportunity connected with the athletic club night.

The following weeks, November 4 - vertical jumps, with throws being covered in two modules on Tuesday, November 11 and 18 with a final module on Tuesday, November 25, which will deal with track judging.

It is hoped that people will not be intimidated by the thought of such courses and that they will find the experience rewarding as will be the opportunity to be out in the centre at NZ Secondary Schools. Those interested can choose what modules they wish to attend and should register through Sport Wanganui.

At the same time we are now calling for school-age volunteers for the championships.

A small group of athletes will travel to Hastings on Saturday for the first of the Regional League meetings.

Unfortunately this year the clash with Labour Weekend has prevented some athletes from competing and many more are likely to compete in Palmerston North a fortnight later and at the final League meeting on November 22 in Wellington, only two weeks before the Secondary Schools Championships.