Talented athlete planning to break some records

Kayla Goodwin, of Sacred Heart Girls’ College, throws the javelin yesterday. Photo: Peter McIntosh
Kayla Goodwin, of Sacred Heart Girls’ College, throws the javelin yesterday. Photo: Peter McIntosh
Expect to hear Kayla Goodwin’s name mentioned a few times this weekend.

The 17-year-old is competing in three events over the next two days at the national secondary school track and field championships at the Caledonian Ground.

The country’s No1 under-18 female in each of the triple jump, long jump and 100m hurdles  is likely to be at the forefront of them, as well.

The Sacred Heart Girls’ College (Hamilton) year 12 athlete began her championships yesterday with the javelin — primarily because it fitted with her schedule.

In that she battled a strong wind to throw 34.91m, a performance she has  bettered only once, and did enough to finish fourth.

That left her "pretty happy", but it is the triple jump, long jump and 100m hurdles  she will want to make her mark in.

While medals could figure, she knew there was always the chance someone else could pull out a big performance.

However, that did not mean she was setting her sights low.

"In triple jump I hope to break the record, if all the wind and everything goes my way," she said.

"That’s my aim, just over 12.21m I think it is, which I’m feeling good for.

"Hurdles, I’d want to break the record for that too, but who knows?

"I’ll just try my best and whatever happens on the day happens."

It has been a big year for Kayla, who placed 11th in the triple jump at the Buenos Aires Youth Olympics with a distance of 12.30m last month.

That came after qualifying with a very impressive 12.62m jump — comfortably ahead of the 12.21m she is aiming for tomorrow.It had been an amazing experience and she  said it was great to compete against girls of such high talent.

However, it was also good to compete at home.

"It’s been a quick turnaround.

"I’ve had to get back into it to try to build up for this one.

"But it’s always good competing at home and against people you’ve gone through the age groups with, it’s always fun."

She had a good past experience in Dunedin too, when she  showed her versatility by winning the national under-18 heptathlon title.

That versatility was not limited to athletics, either.

Kayla is a talented footballer and is in the New Zealand secondary schools team heading to the United States next year.

But athletics  is her focus for now.

After this weekend she will head to Cairns to compete with the New Zealand secondary schools team.

From there she will return home and continue her season as she aims to qualify for the 2020 junior world championships, probably  in the triple jump or decathlon.

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