South Island athletics championships beckon Otago titleholders

Kings athletes excel
Mackenzie Haugh and Jordan Seaward, both of Kings High School have had an outstanding schools athletics season and are looking forward to the challenge of the South Island championships this weekend.

Between them, Mackenzie (year 9) and Jordan (year 11) won 13 individual titles at the Otago and Otago-Southland championships held recently.

Mackenzie won the under-14 80m hurdles, high jump, long jump and triple jump at the Otago meeting and then repeated in all but the long jump at the Otago-Southland meeting.

He filled in for the under-14 relay team in one meeting and the under-15 relay team at the next, with both finishing second.

At the Otago championships Jordan won the under-16 long jump, triple jump and 300m hurdles, was second in the high jump and third in the 80m hurdles, and ran up a grade for the under-19 relay team. In the Otago-Southland championships he won the 300m hurdles.

Bayfield athletes shine
Bayfield High School pupils achieved a number of excellent performances at the Otago-Southland secondary schools athletic championships held recently.

Anna-Lisa Uttley showed she is in a class of her own when she convincingly won the under-16 3000m, beating the record of 10min 25.89sec by 16.55sec for a new record of 10min 9.34sec. She was also second in the under-16 1500m.

Cromwell College achieves
Eight Cromwell College pupils competed in the recent Otago-Southland athletics championships in Dunedin.

Gabe Stockwin won the boys' under-15 javelin with a throw of 45.86m and placed third in the discus. Brooke Takimoana placed second in the girls' under-14 triple jump with a personal best of 9.52m, while Danielle Silvester was second in the girls' under-14 high jump, clearing 1.40m. Six pupils qualified for the South Island championships.

With the support of Barry Keen, 16 pupils competed in a regional lawn bowls tournament in Alexandra.

In the Otago-Southland triathlon held in Cromwell recently, the team of Conner Offen, Matt Beaumont and Abby Holden placed first in their age-group.

Dunstan's fine performances
The Dunstan High School bowls team has retained the championship shield for another year by winning the Zone 6 (from Oamaru south) South Island secondary schools championships.

Kate Willyams and Olivia Smith won the female pairs section.

In the Gillette Cup, the senior boys cricket team beat Cromwell, Mt Aspiring, Bayfield, Taieri College and Waitaki Boys High School, booking a play-off against Otago Boys High School during anniversary weekend. Otago Boys came away with the win in cold conditions.

In tennis, Dunstan has managed to maintain its ranking of fifth in the South Island secondary schools tournament, while in triathlon, Tom Vessey was second in the Otago Southland championships, and fifth in the South Island schools triathlon.

McGlashan tennis
After beating Otago Boys, the John McGlashan tennis team earned the right to represent Otago at the South Island tennis championships held in Timaru recently.

The first tie was a difficult one, playing against defending champion Christchurch Boys. Fortunately, it did not send its top team, which made for some close matches, including Oli Reid's narrow loss in three sets. Oli then teamed up with Rarchyn Makea to gain the first win of the tournament in the doubles.

McGlashan beat Southland Boys 5-1, with an inspiring performance from Rarchyn Makea.

• Calendar

This week (tournament week): Sunburst yachting, Dunedin; orienteering, Dunedin.
April 3: Regional bowls tournament, Alexandra; water polo, weekly competition finals.
April 10-11: Basketball U13 and U15 tournaments, Dunedin.

 
These articles are compiled by the Otago Secondary Schools Sports Assn Inc (OSSSA) which is sponsored by the University of Otago College of Education. Contacts: Des Smith, Otago Regional Sports director, PO Box 6303, Dunedin. Ph 470-1337 Fax 470-1786 Email: des@osssa.org.nz Website: www.osssa.org.nz