Youth Olympic Games Representatives to Highlight Schools Championships
New Zealand’s five representatives at the recent Youth Olympic Games in Argentina are expected to provide the highlights at the New Zealand secondary schools athletic championships to be held at the Caledonian Ground in Dunedin over the weekend. Hannah O’Connor of Sacred Heart Girls’ New Plymouth will contest four events the 1500m, 3000m, 2000m steeplechase and the 4km road race. At the Youth Olympics O’Connor ran a personal best 3000m of 9:25.29. Two years ago O’Connor won three junior titles, the 1500m, 3000m and 4km road, but last year she won just one medal a third in the senior 3000m. Competition for O’Connor will come from Rebecca Baker junior 1500m winner last year, Charli Miller junior 3000m and steeplechase winner in Hastings, Tillie Hollyer, Kirstie Rae, Aimee Ferguson and Liliana Braun, senior 3000m and steeplechase winner last year. Michael Graham is the favourite for the 400m, Liam Back will contest the 800m, steeplechase and road race, Joseph Sinclair is in the 800m and road race, Samuel Tanner and Benjamin Wall are in the 1500m, Tanner also down for the 3000m and Wall the road race and Andres Hernandez the 3000m and road race. Leah Belfield will contest the 100m and 200m. Last year she was third in the 200m. Tayla Brunger, Charlotte Holland and Emma Osborne will battle out the 400m. Lucy Hegan will be all out to add the senior girls 800m title to the junior title she won last year. Alice Ritchie will be defending her 2000m race walk title while Alex Brown will be up against Lucas Martin, Ryan Jones and Bradyn Popow in his defence of the 3000m race walk title. Olly Parkinson 110m hurdles champion last year will line up against Daniel Parkes and will be facing Parkes and Pio in the 300m hurdles. In the field events Jayden Gozdz will feature in the javelin throw, Josh Inger in the high jump, Edward Hsing in the pole vault and Sam Colyer in the long and triple jumps. Colyer won the junior titles last year achieving a record of 13.58m in the triple jump. Tara McNally and Alessandra Macdonald are down to contest the 300m hurdles, Josephine Reeves with a season’s best of 1.80m will defend her high jump title, Imogen Ayris second last year will be looking to go one better in the pole vault, as will Jaidyn Busch who was second in the shot put last year. Kaia Tupu-South should achieve a medal in the shot put and the discus throw. The hammer throw will be a three way contest between Savannah Scheen, Teagan Ashley and Maria Naime. William Stedman T36 of Middleton Grange School will contest the Para/Athlete 100m, 200m, 400m and long jump. At the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro Stedman won the bronze medal in the 400m and 800m. Just over 1300 entries from 210 schools have been received along with teams from the Cook Islands and Niue. The largest field is 101 runners entered in the senior boys 6km road race. Murray McKinnon |
Aspiring Athletes Classic Tour
After a year’s break, the Aspiring Athletes Tour to the Cooks and Capital Classics in January is returning. |
California Track & Field Tour Meeting
Athletes interested in the California Track & Field Tour can meet with Tour director Greg Lautenslager at 12:30pm on Friday and/or Saturday outside the fence at the start/finish line at the Caledonian Ground Track. This season’s tour offers a choice of two travel dates: April 2- April 21 and April 9 – April 28, 2019. Athletes in all disciplines and on all levels are welcomed. They will compete in meets over three weekends in an ideal climate conducive to top performances. For more information, call 027 343-5521 or refer to the website: californiatour.co.nz. |
Scratchings Reminder
Please remember that scratchings from single events close midnight Tuesday. To scratch individual events: If an athlete is now not competing at all, please scratch the athlete completely from the competition by clicking on “Remove” next to the athlete on the Current Entries page. |
NZSSAA Track, Field and Road Race Championships Nov 30, Dec 1/2 2018
The Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association in conjunction with Athletics Otago invite all NZSSAA affiliated schools to participate in the 2018 NZSSAA Track and Field and Road Race Championships which are to be held at the Caledonian Ground, (the “Cale”), Logan Park, Dunedin.
Guideline Programme – the times are indicative only and could alter after entries close in November. Any questions or concerns can be emailed to John Tylden at oe@nzssaa.org.nz. |
NZSSAA AGM
The 2018 AGM of the NZSSAA will take place at the Dunedin Caledonian Athletics Arena Grandstand on November 30 following the 11.00 am Managers Meeting. |
Championship dates and locations 2019
47th New Zealand Secondary School Track, Field and 44th Road Race Championships New Zealand Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships North Island Secondary Schools Championships South Island Secondary Schools Championships |
NZSSAA Service Awards 2018
NZSSAA is calling for nominations for service to secondary school athletes from teachers, coaches and others involved with our sport (Track, Field, Road Race and Cross Country). People may nominate themselves or be nominated by someone who has knowledge of their nominee’s involvement. NZSSAA has been in existence since 1973 and there are many who have given years of service over that time and we wish to recognise that with the presentation of a service badge even if they have been retired from active involvement for a number of years. As a guide for those being nominated we have used the Athletics NZ 20 years of involvement as being the requirement for a service award but will be flexible on that depending on circumstances. Please email your nominations with the name of the school or region they have been most closely associated with and a brief citation covering their service to secondary school athletics to John Tylden oe@nzssaa.org.nz by November 12 2018 if possible. |
Simplot Games, Pocatello, Idaho, 14-16 February 2019
Congratulations to the following athletes who have been selected to represent NZSSAA at the Simplot Indoor Track and Field Games. Nicole Bennett – Hawera High School Team Managers |
Review of NZSSAA Cross Country Championship race distances
Earlier this year NZSSAA Executive received a request from a group of Senior Girl cross country runners to remove gender differences in the distances run at our championships. Please see the below document for more information. |
Australian All Schools Athletics Championships Cairns 7-9 December
Congratulations to the athletes that have been selected to compete at the Australian Championships: Additional Coach/Manager required |
California Track & Field Tour 2019
The California Track & Field Tour welcomes secondary schools athletes on all levels and all disciplines to join the team for the ninth annual journey to excellent meets in Southern and Central California. This year’s tour offers a choice of two travel dates: April 2 – April 21 and April 9-April 28. The athletes will be based in Orange County and compete in meets over three weekends. Athletes on past tours have achieved many personal bests against top U.S. high school competition in an ideal climate conducive to top performances. To learn more about the tour and to apply, go to californiatour.co.nz or contact Greg Lautenslager, Athletics Nelson Head Coach and California Track & Field Tour Director at (O) 03 923-2321 or (M) 027 343-5521 or via e-mail: coach@nzrunningacademy.co.nz. |
29 November 2018 11:00am