Our NZSS Track & Field team
All the best to Coach Greg Fromont, Manager Elaine Baker and our 17 WHS Students in Dunedin this weekend at the NZSS Track & Field Champs!!! Go Hard team!!
Whanganui High schools’ biggest athletics team to attend the NZ Secondary Champs in many years left today to take on the best talent in NZ over the weekend in Dunedin.
This year we have managed to qualify a team of 17 athletes which consists of 7 seniors and 10 juniors many of whom have been part of high school’s development pathway for the last 2 years.
There are 6 relay teams, the Junior girls, Junior boys and Senior boys 4 x 100mtrs and Junior girls, Junior boys and Senior boys 4 x 400mtrs all of whom have a great opportunity of finishing in the top 8 nationally.
In addition to this we have the current national and North Island 1500mtr champ and a number of other athletes ranked in the top 10 in the country in their respective events.
A particular strength this year has been in hurdles where we have 8 athletes competing across 12 events, all of whom have good chances of at least making semis or finals.
In total the team will contest 45 events, including sprints, running, jumping, throwing and pole vault.
With an average age of only 15, and the quality of performances by the team going up every year it’s a great time to be an athlete at WHS.
Some athletes to watch out for at the champs:
Rebecca Baker - 2nd ranked U18 1500mtrs and current Junior champ, 7th ranked U18 over 3000mtrs
Travis Bayler - 7th ranked U18 400mtrs
Johnathan Maples - 4th ranked U18 over 300mtrs hurdles
Paris Munro – Current North Island 70mtrs hurdles champ, 6th ranked U16 over 300mtrs hurdles
Casie Glentworth – 2nd at North Island 70mtrs hurdles
Karl Lobe – 2nd ranked U16 over 300mtrs hurdles, and also highly ranked over 800mtrs
Nat Kirk - Current North Island Junior schools 800mtrs champ
Vincent Ye - 5th ranked U16 over 300mtrs hurdles
Sophie Andrews – 11th ranked U18 in Shot Putt
Lisa Murphy
WHS Director of Sport