Peers honour a tough competitor

TURNING FOR HOME: The heptathlon field (from left) Andrea McDowell (Southland), Elena Chetland de Vries (Auckland), Alessandra Macdonald (Waikato-BoP) and Lexi Maples (Whanganui).PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY

THE COMBINED event athletes (men in the decathlon and women in the heptathlon) are a special breed and are truly outstanding sportsmen and women. This was again evident at Cooks Gardens during the weekend at the New Zealand Championships.

While Keisuke Ushiro (Japan) won the decathlon with Aucklander Brent Newdick taking the New Zealand title and Veronica Torr (Auckland) the women's gold, Palmerston North stalwart Callum McConachy won the special Vance Latta Trophy.

The trophy is in the memory of Vance Latta who won the decathlon silver medal in 1995 and tragically died of meningitis two years later. Latta was a true outgoing all-round athlete who brought a real presence to the sport. The trophy is special in that it is voted for by all the decathletes and is awarded to the competitor who embodies the true spirit of the event.

I was delighted that Callum McConachy won the vote from his peers and he was indeed a worthy recipient.

"It is not often you finish 6th and 4th New Zealander and win a prize," was McConachy's comment on receiving the award.

Decathletes were especially valuable in the days of the old Central Athletic League and as such they, through their versatility and work ethic, were happy to fill many team spots in the programme.

McConachy has competed successfully in the World Double Decathlon. The double involves 20 events over two days demanding a versatility and mental toughness that defies belief. The recommended programme of events is as follows:

Icosathlon

DAY 1

1. 100m

2. Long jump

3. 200m hurdles

4. Shot put

5. 5000m

6. 800m

7. High jump

8. 400m

9. Hammer throw

10. 3000m steeplechase

DAY 2

11. 110m hurdles

12. Discus throw

13. 200m

14. Pole vault

15. 3000m

16. 400m hurdles

17. Javelin throw

18. 1500m

19. Triple jump

20. 10,000m

It is exhausting just reading through the events

On Sunday, McConachy made a detour to collect pole vault poles at the Palmerston North gear shed, compromising his warm-up for the start of the Day 2 programme, the 110m hurdles.

McConachy aggravated an injury in the event, but battled on through the remaining four events of the second day, earning the support of fellow competitors and spectators. McConachy certainly reflected the true spirit of the event.

In the Youth Heptathlon our own Lexi Maples demonstrated much of this spirit. During the summer holidays she had a moon boot on because of a stress fracture. She used the time that she could not run learning javelin and shot put from local throws coach Richard Drabczynski with the hope of rescuing her season by taking part in the weekend's heptathlon, even if only just getting back to training.

On return to full training at the beginning of February she learned high jump and started hurdles. At the weekend she finished 8th of the 11 competitors in the New Zealand Youth Championship.

Maples revelled in the camaraderie and has found an event where she will progress. She set personal bests in javelin, shot, high jump and javelin and when fully fit will add her sprint and distance strengths. Maples is an athlete to watch.

The Collegiate Inter-House event is on at Cooks Gardens on Saturday, starting at 5pm.

The vibrant and action-filled team competition always entertains the large audience.

Although athletes are limited to two individual and two relay events, there is considerable talent on display.

It was good to see Cullinane College at Cooks Gardens on Tuesday and even more pleasing that four records were broken.

A great start to the local schools championship season that culminates in the Whanganui Secondary Schools Championships on March 16 at Cooks Gardens.