Waikato/BOP Athletics Representatives

Waikato/BOP Athletics Representatives - Te Awamutu College

Te Awamutu College Athletics Success

Coach Murray Green has every reason to be proud of the achievements of his Te Awamutu College athletes at the recent North Island Secondary Schools’ Athletics (NISS) Championships in Wanganui. The athletes qualified to represent their province by being placed in the top four in the Waikato Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools’ Athletics (WBOP) Championships at Tauranga.
Haereakau Tihi won the WBOP Senior Girls’ Javelin and placed second in the Senior Girls’ Javelin at the North Island Secondary School Champs. She has consistently thrown over 30m and her season best throw ranks her 6th in NZ for her age group, with a new PB of 34.55m.
Ethan Carter placed second in the Senior Boy’s 100 & 200m at the WBOP Champs, running the second fastest time in NZ for his age group in the 200m at the time. Sprinters were confronted with strong head winds in the NISS Champs at Wanganui, which meant fast times were off the cards. Ethan was placed 3rd in the 100m & 200m finals at the NISS Champs out of very large fields and running the 200m in a slick 22.55, despite the strong head wind. He was also a member of the 2nd placed Waikato 4 x 100m relay team. He finishes the season with PBs in the 100m (11.14) and in the 200m (22.26). His season best times rank him 14th in the 100m and 3rd in the 200m in NZ for his age group.
Leah Belfield was the dominant sprinter in the Senior Girl’s 100, 200m and 400m at the WBOP Champs, winning all easily. At the NISS Champs Leah convincingly won the Senior Girl’s 100m & 200m and 4 x 100m relay. This continues a run of impressive performances over a number of seasons. Leah finishes the season with new PBs in the 100m (12.36), 200m (24.97) and 400m (59.82) and is ranked 5th nationally for her age group in both the 100m and 200m.
Jordan Baillie is an athlete new to competition at this level. He was placed 2nd in the WBOP Senior Boy’s Shot Put, which gained him selection in the WBOP Team. Although he didn’t make the top 6 at the NISS Champs, he displayed undoubted potential, with throws over 10m.
The athletes now transition into their winter training, but will be looking forward to the National Secondary Schools’ Athletics Championships in Dunedin in December.