Athletics: Big-throwing Peeters gets top award

Tori Peeters
Tori Peeters
Tori Peeters (Taieri) has been named the Otago athlete of the year for smashing New Zealand records in the javelin.

Peeters (19) has improved her javelin distance by a massive 7.60m this season and now holds the New Zealand senior women's and under-20 records with her national championship-winning throw of 54.45m.

It was 26cm better than the old record, which had been held by former Olympian Kirsten Hellier for the past 15 years.

She now holds the junior women's record with the same distance. Peeters beat the under-20 record for the third time last season with her winning throw in Wellington. It was 4.95m better than the old record that Andrea McBride (Auckland) held at the beginning of the season.

Peeters won the senior girls javelin at the New Zealand secondary schools championships in December 2012 with 46.85m and since then has improved her distance by 7.60m.

She is coached by Raylene Bates, who has helped her technically and given her the confidence to become the best women's javelin thrower in the country.

Throwing is the leading discipline in Otago athletics at the moment and five of the top awards were won by throwers.

Peeters was also named best summer athlete of the year and two other throwers received top awards.

New Zealand senior discus champion Marshall Hall (Taieri) was named most improved senior athlete for his national championship-winning throw of 58.25m.

In January, he beat Robin Tait's 47-year-old Otago senior men's discus record with 57.06m and then extended it at the national championships.

Javelin thrower Holly Robinson (Taieri) was named best paralympic athlete of the year.

Taieri club athletes dominated the top awards. Christina Ashton was named top junior summer athlete and Joan Merrilees and Megan Gibbons named top coaches.

The other awards were won by: Adriana Mawhinney (Alexandra), most improved track and field athlete; Liz Wilson (Hill City), top veteran; Netty Lastovicka (Ariki), contribution to athletics; Sian English (Ariki), best female winter athlete; Sam Bremer (Hill City), best male winter athlete.

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