Sport a juggling act for Stark

Blue Mountain College year 12 pupil Gavin Stark divides his time between rugby and athletics....
Blue Mountain College year 12 pupil Gavin Stark divides his time between rugby and athletics. Photo by Helena de Reus.
Balancing rugby, athletics and school has not stopped Blue Mountain College pupil Gavin Stark from ranking among the country's best.

Stark (16) attends the Southland Sports Academy for athletics while attending Blue Mountain College in Tapanui.

Last month, Stark was one of 60 players taking part in a three-day rugby camp in Rotorua, one of just a dozen year 12 pupils who gained selection for the camp.

The New Zealand schools and the schools Barbarians sides were picked from players at the camp.

Stark plays wing and fullback, but prefers the more open space of the wing.

In December, Stark was selected in the New Zealand under-17 regional development rugby squad and also took part in the Highlanders camp in Dunedin, in July. Further success came at the recent Southern Region awards, where he was named most promising player.

He loves rugby, having played the sport from the age of 5.

"I enjoy getting outside and I've always loved rugby. Every try I saw on TV I would go and practice it out on the lawn.

"There wasn't too much room there."

The 16-year-old plays in the South Otago High School First XV and travels from his Waikoikoi home to Balclutha for practice twice a week, and undertakes speed and endurance training in Invercargill twice a week.

"It keeps me on my toes."

He is also a very handy sprinter, ranked fourth in the under-18 national 100m and eighth in 200m.

Swimming was Stark's other passion for many years until about three years ago, when he started competing in athletics.

"I started off swimming until I got bored of that. Then I basically got out of the pool and went straight to nationals for athletics."

Right now, Stark is gearing up for the athletics season, and is looking forward to the New Zealand Secondary Schools Athletics championships in Dunedin in December.

"I don't get much of a break in between the two sports."

Stark battled ongoing issues with his quads last athletics season, but had not had any problems with them this rugby season and said his athletics training at the Southland Sports Academy was going well with coach Lorne Singer.

"I had a lot of injuries last season, but things are looking pretty good this year."

After finishing secondary school, Stark aims to study strength and conditioning in Dunedin while playing rugby there.

 


 

FASTLANE

Name: Gavin Stark (16)

School: Blue Mountain College

Sport: Rugby, athletics

Achievements: Ranked fourth in NZ under-18 in 100m, selected in the New Zealand under-17 regional development rugby squad.


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