The NZ Secondary Schools Athletics Competition was held for the first time at Nga Puna Wai Otautahi Christchurch in December 2023.

Burnside High School had a great three days at the 50th Anniversary NZ Secondary Schools Athletics at Nga Puna Wai from 8 to 10 December.

This event was started in Christchurch back in 1973 with two Burnside Teachers (Alan Bennett and Don Chatterton) at the time part of the inaugural organising committee along with teachers from other Christchurch schools. This vision has seen a National Secondary Schools happen every year since with only one year missed due to the Covid Pandemic.

This year more than 200 schools took part with around 1300 athletes so the meet has certainly stood the test of time.

All Christchurch Schools participating were part of ensuring the event ran smoothly at their home track.

Athletes were challenged with a full set of weather encountering heat, cold, wind and driving rain.

Burnside High School won three medals. Daniel Grounds 10WDNK was a Gold medal winner and National Champion in the Junior Boys Pole Vault. Ari Keshariya 10SCTH gained Silver in the Junior Boys Triple Jump and Bronze in the Junior Boys High Jump. Honorable mentions for our 4 x400m Junior mixed team(Monica Ye 9WRIC Ben Lough 9SOSC Katie Horton 11WMNS and Charlie Brown 9WFSL) who finished 4th.

Olivia Watt 13ABJ in her final year of school athletics and after dedicated service to Athletics over her time at school finished 4th in the Senior Girls Pole Vault. Our Senior Boys Road Race team were seventh in the three person team event (Beck Faloon-Cavandar 12SKNG, Daniel Lough 12SBYS and Noah Clark 12NWLC). This race was 6 km for each person.

Dylan Williams 10WWIC is one to watch for the future qualifying through to the semi final of the Junior Boys 100m.

We had a super team of helpers who gave their time over the weekend.- Student helpers were Tor Chiles 12WANH and Sakura Saito 10NQRM (all three days) Ottilie Faloon- Cavandar 10WRDS, Johnny Findlay 12NWLC, and Ryan Yoon 11SGLS (2 days) and Emily Stedman 10NSYA (1 day).Staff helpers Mr Murray Paull and Mrs Helen Townsend did an amazing job as van drivers and general helpers. Mr Bill Boyd was a van driver, team helper and high jump official.
Special thanks to Ms Irene Lewis who managed our 25 athletes at the event.