Tarleton (17) won gold in the boys senior hammer throw in Wanganui last weekend with a personal-best (PB) 58.66m throw.
That topped his previous best throw by more than 5m, about the same distance by which he beat second-placed Ben Power, of Hutt International Boys' School.
Tarleton, who has just finished year 12 at Taieri College, was the only Otago male to come home with gold.
''Going off everyone's PBs, I knew I could medal. But I didn't want to jinx myself because it all happens on the day,'' he said.
''I've been through heaps of competitions where I have had six no-throws.
''But I had a good series all round because I was increasing my PB throughout. I was leading the whole way through the competition.''
Coached by Raylene Bates, Tarleton has steadily improved since dropping discus and shot put six years ago to focus on the hammer.
He won bronze at the secondary school championships two years ago in the junior age group, before adding two more medals - gold in under-16 and bronze in under-18 - at the national club track and field championships last season.
The Taieri thrower also competed at the South Island Championships at the Caledonian at the weekend.
He finished third with a 47.89m throw.
Tarleton, a keen rugby player who plays in the No12 jersey for the Taieri College first XV, took up athletics when he was 6 and rugby when he was 9.
While he is looking forward to playing in the Highlanders First XV competition next year, his aspirations are in athletics.
''I want to try and make a New Zealand team. That's my main hope.
''Last year I could have qualified for the Oceania Championships, but they weren't taking as many athletes because it was the Commonwealth Games and the money was going towards them.''
If Tarleton can impress at the national championships in Wellington in March, there is every chance he will achieve his goal next year.
- Robert van Royen
