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New Zealand Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships, 17-18 June, Palmerston North

28 March 2023 4:00pm

Merchandise

Please see below for information and to order merchandise – t-shirts and hoodies. Be in quickly! Orders close 31 May.

Survey of Interest for a NZSS Road Relay Event

1 June 2023 8:00pm

NZSSAA have been given the opportunity and support to stage a new Challenge event as part of several secondary school sports events to be staged in Auckland during Winter Tournament Week.

All details of this proposal are at the following link of which we wish for you to take ONE minute to read and complete the survey before 6.00pm Tuesday 13 June.

ISF World Schools Cross Country Championships 2024

18 May 2023 7:00pm

NZSSAA have agreed in principle to explore the option of sending a NZSS Cross Country team, and a selected female and male school Cross Country team to the ISF World Schools Cross Country to be held in Kenya 2024.

We are waiting for confirmed race venue and dates and will update this website as soon as this information is received. The main selection for this event will be the NZSS Cross Country Championships at Palmerston North from 17-18 June 2023.

NZSSAA Team to the Australian Schools Cross Country Championships, Canberra, 24-29 August 2023

17 May 2023 3:00pm

NZSSAA is proposing to take a representative team to the Australian Schools Cross Country Championships to be held in Canberra, ACT in August 2023.
Selection in the team will be automatic for the top ten finishers in both the senior boys and senior girls events at our Championships in Palmerston North on June 17. An additional two places will be available in both the girls and boys teams for athletes who finish outside of the top ten or from the junior grades. Performance at the Athletics NZ Cross Country Championships in Taupo, 29 July, may also be considered, although the time available before departure is limited.
The dates that athletes will need to be prepared to travel and compete at the two events (age group races on the Saturday + relays on Monday) are 24-29 August. Costs per athlete will be in the vicinity of $2500 (flights ex Auckland) excluding NZ representative uniform. Top ten finishers in both senior grades at our Championships may be entitled to a $300 travel subsidy to help fund their trip.

Assistant Manager/Coach required

Expressions of interest for the position of an Assistant Manager/Coach for the NZSSAA team to the Australian Schools Cross Country Championships, Stromlo Forest Park Canberra August 24-29 2023 are called for. Expressions of interest should be emailed to Tony Rogers, NZSSAA Chairman by June 26th 2023 using tony@acesports.co.nz. Brad Smith, NZSSAA Treasurer, has been appointed Tour Manager by the NZSSAA Executive.
Please provide a brief resume of your experience with secondary school cross country athletes and events. If you have any questions please email Tony Rogers.

Athlete expression of interest form
The EOI form will become available at the conclusion of the Palmerston North Championships on June 17.

Australian Junior Athletics Championships 15-17 April 2023

18 April 2023 12:00pm

Results from the Australian Junior Athletics Championships, held 14-17 April in Brisbane are below, and more write-up and photos on our Facebook page.

Passing of Robin "Digger" Doyle

20 February 2023 8:00am

Sadly, Robin “Digger” Doyle passed away at 5:20 pm on February 17. A real character of athletics at local level. A man of dedication, passion, and wit. His catch phrases are legendary, but perhaps not for general publication!

Robin had recently retired from 45 years of teaching at Palmerston North Boys High School. Digger loved relays and during his time teaching he coached teams to 12 gold medals, 13 silver, and 6 bronze at NZSS Championships.

He coached Hayden Townsend, Shaun MacFarlane, Craig Wickes , Sam Higgie and so many others. His athlete first approach was an example to all.

Robin was awarded the NZSSAA Service Medal in 2017 to recognise his many years of outstanding commitment to secondary school athletics.

He is greatly missed.

George McConachy
Friend of 48 years

North Island Secondary Schools Athletics Championships, Palmerston North, 1-2 April

15 February 2023 12:00pm

Straight Finals and Programme Change

The following events will be at finals time:
  • Junior Girls 800m, Senior Girls 800m, Senior Boys 800m
  • Junior Boys 80m Hurdles, Senior Girls 100m Hurdles, Senior Boys 110m Hurdles
  • The Senior Girls Hammer will now be held at 5.45pm Saturday.

Meeting of Officials: 8am Saturday 1st April

Capital Classic Wellington, Friday 3rd February

7 February 2023 5:00pm

The fourth Classic Meet of the season held in Wellington featured several NZSS athletes with a few backing up from the Whanganui meet. Once again, our New Zealand Secondary School athletes performed with great distinction attaining some new PBs. Our two mixed 4×400m teams acquitted themselves well finishing 1st and 2nd in the last track event on the program. For all of our athletes selected and supported by NZSSAA the value of these Classic meets proved invaluable competition in furthering the development of these young athletes, especially being able to compete against some of our best senior athletes. So well done to all those who competed in Timaru, Hastings, Whanganui and Wellington. Also, a big shout out to the management team from NZSSAA, Paul, Ange, Judith, and Geoff. Below are the highlights of our athletes who competed in Wellington.

  • Louise Brabyn U20 mile (5: 27.59) 3rd and 4×400m 2nd.
  • Addira Collette 100m Elite (11.84) 3rd and 200m Elite (24.90) 5th while sister Chayille 100m Elite (12.05) 4th and 200m Elite (24.90).
  • Hannah Collins TJ (11.57m) 2nd
  • Charlotte Goldsmith TJ (11.44m) 3rd and Open 200m (26.42) 5th
  • Holly Gray 200m Open (26.82) 8th and 100mH (14.88) 1st
  • Jessica Hendren HJ Open (1.57m) 9th
  • Maggie Jones had a busy day competing in 3 event 100mH (14.69) 2nd and a PB, 200m Open (26.41) 4th and another PB and 4×400m 1st.
  • Maddie Kelso-Heap 800m Elite (2:14.63) 8th
  • Sionann Murphy Para Shot (8.54m) 2nd and a new PB
  • Boh Ritchie competing in the ANZ Women 3000m (9:51.16) 7th and 4×400m 2nd.
  • Mikayla Sola Shot (11.19m) 3rd, Hammer (42.39) 6th
  • Micayla Whiti 100m Open (12.59) 1st, 200m Open (26.20) 3rd and 4×400m 2nd
  • Leala Willman Javelin (35.40m) 3rd and new PB and Hammer (31.26) 10th.
  • Grace Wisnewski was another of our athletes competing in 3 events, 100mH (14.83) 3rd, 200m Open (26.12) and 4×400m 1st.
  • Ronan Codyre ANZ Senior Men’s 3000m (8:16.88) 12th and a new PB
  • Thomas Cowan ran a quick 1:53.72 over the Elite 800m to place 2nd.
  • Jonah Cropp 3000m walk 12:47.85 1st
  • Christian De Vaal continued his great form with a PB over the ANZ 3000m placing a very good 5th.
  • James Ford Elite 800m 1:52.52 1st
  • James Hansen had 3 PBs in the three events he competed in 200m Open (23.04) 8th, 110H (15.17) 1st and Javelin 40m.02 7th and 4×400m 1st
  • Corran Hanning showed excellent form again in the Para shot with a new PB (13m 45) 1st
  • Lucas Martin 3000m Walk 12:51.93 2nd and 4×400m 2nd
  • Asher Pettengell-Brand had a busy day competing in the Open 100m (11.07) 4th, Open 200m (22.30) 3rd and the 4×400m 1st
  • Tyrone Trego ran an outstanding Open 100m (10.61) 1st smashing his previous PB and only 1/100th outside the NZSSAA record in a legal run, he backed this up in the Open 200m (22.48) 4th.
  • Karsten Vesty ran a solid race in the ANZ Men’s 3000m finishing 20th in 8:57.13
  • Jason Woolley competing in the Para events had a busy day finishing 2nd in the 100m (13.14), 2nd in the Open 200m (26.70)

South Island Secondary Schools Athletics Championships, Invercargill, March 31 - April 2

3 February 2023 5:00pm

Cook's Classic

1 February 2023 7:00pm

Outstanding results at the Cook’s Classic and well done to Alec McNab and his team for organising another successful Cook’s Classic.

Some highlights from our team.

  • 15x Personal Bests
  • 2x ANZ U20 Mile Titles (Alfie and Boh strike again!)
  • Stunning sprinting by the Collette twins with PB’s in the 100m
  • Our 400m Hurdlers went 1,2,3,4 all with great PB’s between 1:02-1:03. What an awesome group of talented hurdlers, and so good to have this level of competition.
  • PB’s were smashed by our Milers; Christian, Karsen, William, Alfie and Boh.

Some of the best PB’s come from hanging on to what is in front of you, or taking the lead and setting a mean pace.

Our thoughts are with some of the families/athletes that were unable to travel to compete with flooding and flight cancellations. Hope to see you compete soon.

Potts Classic Meet, Hastings January 21st

26 January 2023 4:00pm

The second Classic Meet of the season held in Hastings featured a number of NZSS athletes with a few backing up from the Lovelock Classic. All of our athletes selected represented NZSSAA with great distinction with a number of PBs and standout performances including 2 ANZ U20 titles in both Men and Women grades. The meeting got underway at 5pm but prior to this meet a Pre-meet was held for some of the Field athletes.

  • Addira Collette 100m (12.33) 7th and 200m (25.22) 2nd while sister Chayille 100m (12.31) 6th and 200m (24.78) with an excellent 1st place.
  • Amelie Fairclough finished strongly over 400m 56.25 (5th)
  • Jorga Gibbons finished 5th in the LJ (5.10m) while backing up over the 100m (12.81) for 5th in her heat.
  • Sophie Hancock achieved a PB in the 400m (57.86) and placed 5th in her heat of the 100m (12.88) following a PB in the LJ (6.06m)
  • Maddie Kelso-Heap 400m (57.71) 6th while Nadia Kumerich achieved a PB of 47.05 in the Hammer at the Pre-meet backed up with a Shot of 11.25m (4th) were notable performances.
  • ANZ U20 women 3000m 1st Boh Ritchie in a new PB of 9m 45.9 an outstanding performance and is well on course for her preparation for the World Cross-Country Championships in Bathurst in February.
  • Mikayla Sola achieved a number of PBs. Shot (11.25m) 5th, Discuss (38.61m) 6th which followed a 50m PB in the Hammer at the Pre-meet.
  • Kahurangi Cotterill achieved a PB in the 400m (50.08) placing him 1st in his age group.
  • Thomas Cowan ran a quick 1:53.19 over the 800m to place 7th in the open race.
  • Christian De Vaal continued his fine season with a NZ U20 3000m title with a time of 8m10.80 and is also in preparation for the World cross country champs.
  • Joseph Dunn finished 5th in the 110H(15.19) while James Ford finished 5th in the 800m (1: 52.45) in a very competitive field.
  • Cole Gibbons backed up his efforts in Timaru with a 4.22m PV(6th) and a PB and also placed 5th in the 100m heat (11.27) and a 110H (15.32) for 6th.
  • Corran Hanning showed excellent form in the Para shot (11.62) 1st and Discuss (34.13m) 1st.
  • William Johnston ran a PB over the 800. (1m 53.93) for 1st.
  • Forbes Kennedy 200m (23.60) 6th and LJ (6.35) 6th showed solid form while Nat Kirk ran a PB over 400m (51.57).
  • Lucus Moffitt was close to his best in the 3000m walk, clocking 12:53.93 for 1st place.
  • Blessing Sio had the Discuss out to 45.91m for 6th and a new PB then backing up to have the shot out to 14m 84 for 7th.
  • Alfie Steedman ran a great race for 2nd in the ANZU20 3000m with a new PB of 8m 19.74.
  • Tyrone Trego with a solid 4th in his heat of the 100m (10.89).
  • Karsten Vesty clocked a new PB in the Open 800m with a time of 1:51.24 finishing 4th.
  • Jason Woolley competing in the Para events had a busy day finishing 1st in the 100m (13.12), 7th in the Open 200m(26.93) and 1st in the LJ 4m.53.

We now look forward to the Cooks Classics on Saturday 28th January where a large contingent of NZSS athletes will be competing.

Lovelock Classic Meet, Timaru January 7th

25 January 2023 8:38pm

The first Classic meet of the season held in Timaru featured 8 of our NZSS athletes selected after the running of our Championships held in Inglewood in early December. The selection of these athletes to compete in national uniform representing New Zealand Secondary Schools saw all athletes acquit themselves well with a number of PBs and standout performances backing up their efforts from early December.

  • Bernie Cullen finished 3rd in the LJ (5.24M).
  • Jorja Gibbons had a busy day with a 2nd place in the 100m (12.42), 200m 3rd (26.38) and a LJ of 5.16m.
  • Holly Gray was able to achieve PBs in the 100m (12.99) and 200m (26.30) while also winning the 100H (14.98).
  • Micayla Whiti gained a 1st place in the 200m (25.84) and placed 3rd in the 100m (12.61)
  • Joseph Dunn 110H (14.88) gained 1st while Cole Gibbons gained new PBs in the 200m (22.64) and 110H (15.21) finishing 2nd while also jumping 6.32m in the LJ.
  • Luke Moffit 100m (11.63) 5th and a LJ of 6.39m were both solid performances.
  • Asher Pettengell-Brand finished 4th in the 200m clocking 22.31.

NZSSAA Team to the Australian Junior Athletics Championships, Brisbane, Queensland, April 12-17 2023

13 January 2023 4:00pm

Congratulations to the following athletes who have been selected to compete in the Australian Junior Athletics Championships.

Lost Property from Track, Field and Road Race Champs

22 December 2022 9:30pm

The following spikes are a size 8 USA (women’s size). The owner can contact oe@nzssaa.org.nz to arrange return.

NZSSAA Track & Field Team to tour the Classic Meets from January to February 4

15 December 2022 7:50pm

NZSSAA Track & Field Team to tour the Classic Meets from January to February 4.

Selection was based on performances in Inglewood and the submissions of expressions of interest prior to the championships.

Paper Team, Athletes of the Meet, and Acknowledgement of Officials

13 December 2022 8:00am

Congratulations to the Track, Field and Road Race Paper Team and Athletes of the Meet. We wish to also acknowledge the work of the Officials and Volunteers at the Championships.
See past news items in the archive.