RANKING tables provide important information for athletes. They can indicate where they are placed both nationally and regionally, they can clearly document progress and they can provide outstanding motivation for all athletes especially in the junior ranks.
We are well served by the excellent rankings provided by the Athletics NewZealand statistician Steve Hollings. The rankings are an invaluable tool for selectors as on the deep list they indicate a large number of performances and a search on an individual athlete can illustrate not only progress through a season but also provides a valuable historical record with annual progressions.
We have after a year's gap reinstated our own Athletics Wanganui rankings. The list includes all athletes in the top 10 or more in events where a greater number of athletes have reached a stated standard (this standard appears at the head of each event on the tables). The work involved in producing these are I believe worth the effort because of the value to athletes and, providing the statistician does not allow a backlog to develop, is not too time consuming. Our rankings are total club rankings rather than age grouped and unlike Athletics New Zealand many include no wind readings (listed as NWR).
The first regional league in Masterton last Saturday, although clashing with other events, provided a raft of new ranking performances with athletes enjoying both the excellent conditions and also the added depth of competition. Grace Godfrey continued her good progress in the one lap event stopping the clock at 1:00.63 only marginally outside her personal best. If she looks back at previous results she will see that this is almost four seconds over 400 metres than at the same time last year.
Harry Symes set a substantial personal best over his 400 metres, running the one lap in 49.09 seconds, losing narrowly to former Collegiate sprint star William Smart now based in Palmerston North (48.79). Symes' performance put him back on top of the New Zealand Youth rankings although a subsequent performance by 16-year-old Aucklander Oliver Millar in 48.91 will once again show a change on the rankings. They will do battle in Timaru at NZ Schools in December where older Year 13 athletes will join them in the battle for gold.
The motivation provided by rankings was clearly evident with Symes running two 300 metre runs with a 20 minute recovery on Tuesday evening as he searches for the strength to regain the top ranking. His 36.11 and 34.3 suggest that fresh bests are not far away.
The biggest lift in Wanganui ranking performances came from Charlie Waddy who took almost seven seconds off his best 800 metres to run 2: 07.81 propelling him to second to Dan McLeod who finished third in Masterton with a season's best of 2:03.84. Top middle distance runner Christian Conder is yet to do the two lap event.
The 100 metre sprint rankings are headed by two Year 8 athletes both of who have exciting futures in the sport. Twelve-year-old Genna Maples ran against proven older sprinters in Masterton. Maples was not outclassed finishing midfield and was rewarded with a smart 12.92 second performance. On Tuesday evening fellow Wanganui Intermediate athlete Tayla Brunger moved into second in the 100 metre rankings with 13.43 performance. Kate Tylee in Year 10 at Wanganui Collegiate also made an upward movement on Saturday with a 13.68 second performance. All three could be in the same under 16 relay team next year at New Zealand Schools - an exciting prospect. Brunger also moved into second in the 300 metre rankings with an outstanding 44.93 when she finished second to Grace Godfrey at the chilly damp Tuesday Club Night. Godfrey ran a personal best 43.52).
Wanganui athletes travel to Palmerston North for the second of three league meetings. If the good forecast materialises I will be busy updating the rankings on Sunday recording a raft of new best performances. Four weeks out from New Zealand Schools and five weeks ahead of the North Island senior event in Palmerston North such performances are vital.
The Athletic Wanganui rankings are updated regularly on the Athletics Wanganui website www.athleticswanganui.co.nz
