Northland Secondary Schools were well represented by a team of 30 athletes at the North Island Secondary Schools Track and Field Championship held at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland from March 27-29.

Hammer throwers lead the way with impressive performances on the first afternoon of competition. Aimee-Leigh Scott (WGHS) became the Junior Girls Champion with a throw of 38.09m that broke the current North Island record by over two metres. Aya Ball (Tauraroa Area School) competing in the same grade finished a creditable 4th. Nik Kini (WBHS) and Jordyn Hetaraka (Okaihau) finished 1st and 2nd respectively in the Junior Boys event. Scott Gregory (WBHS) broke the Intermediate record of 49.71m that he set last year with a throw of 57.26m.

Aimee-Leigh also went on to place 5th in Discus and 3rd in 70m Junior Hurdles. Jordyn placed 3rd in his Discus and 6th in Shot Put and Scott placed 2nd in his Discus and 3rd in Shot Put. Other pleasing field performances included a 3rd in Junior Girls Javelin by Sapphire Norburn-Cormack (Rodney), a 4th in Intermediate Girls High Jump by Claire Fuller (WGHS), a 4th in Senior Boys Triple Jump by Carlos Wirihana (WBHS) and a 5th in Intermediate Boys High Jump by Jonty Zivkovich (KKHS).

Northland’s track athletes produced a mixed bag of results over their two days of competition. For some, the realisation of the true standard of such a provincial meet proved very educational. Georgia Brierly (Rodney) on the other hand, spectacularly made three finals all on the first full day of competition in the Junior 100m, 300m and 800m. Kelsey Jellick (WGHS) finished 5th in both the Senior 100m and 200m finals; Imogen Hull’s (KKHS) best performance was 3rd in her Senior 3000m; Euan Sapwell (WBHS) placed 7th in his Intermediate 100m final and 2nd in his 400m final; and Alexander Hull’s (KKHS) best placing was 5th in his Intermediate 3000m.

A highlight for Team Manager and Regional Sports Director, Robyn Richards was the performance of the Senior Boys relay team after the first full day of competition. “We were the only team practicing without a baton. The unavailability of one athlete caused a bit of a team reshuffle so that in the end we had two sprinters, a jumper and a thrower. Those boys did extremely well and their baton changing was right up there with the best provinces.”

Richards is grateful to all the parents and teachers that accompanied the athletes to the event. She says that there was exactly the kind of good support you would expect from those dedicated to making sure our students in Northland get to compete at this kind of opportunity.

For further details contact Robyn Richards  0274 379007  robynr@sportnorth.co.nz