Last Wednesday, Central Hawke’s Bay College took a large team of 30 plus athletes to represent at the East Coast North Island Secondary Schools Athletics Championships. The team looked smart as they rolled into the track at the Hastings Sports Park in their number ones and were well supported by Mrs Aldridge, Mrs Cahill, Mr Fraser and Mr Fleming as team managers and support for the day. Mrs Waru also represented the College as one of the jumps officials for the day.

The number of athletes representing their schools has dropped over the years, but by no means has this had an effect on the quality of the performances in each of the events with a majority of the students competing also being trained club representatives. So for many of our team to place where they did given the talent on display was testament to their willingness to participate to the best of their abilities regardless of whether Athletics was their chosen sport.

College athletes were well represented in most fields with many getting top ten placings. Four of our students made sprint finals, and won five podium placings in the competition including one title.

The College Intermediate boys were 3rd in the 4 X 100m Relay, Caitlin Jenkins was 3rd in the Senior Girls 800m and Amy-Grace Jones placed 2nd in the Junior Girls 300m. Our best performer of the day was Johanna Nieuwenhuis who was 3rd in the Senior Girls Discus and comfortably won the Senior Girls Javelin Title with a throw of over 35 metres.  Johanna would have been selected for Nationals but this has been cancelled due to Coronovirus preventative measures.

Full team was;

Rhys Baker, Jackson Baylis, Samantha Boot, Dylan Boyd, Jamie Brun, Malachi Bucknell, Tia Cudby, Jake Edwards, Breana Gilby, Vann Harley, Danielle Hemi, Matt Hulena, Caitlin Jenkins, Emma Johnson, Olivia Johnson, Amy-Grace Jones, Caleb Keane, Kegan Kirk, Ryan Kirk, Cove Lambert, Alice Lawrence, Micheala-Vei Leota-Cracknell, Cody Lightfoot-Dyer, Charlotte London, Connor Maulder, Veronica Mills, Caleb Moor, Behnjamin Murcott, Johanna Nieuwenhuis, Lahtesha O'Brien, Sean Ocampo, Rheanne Rusden, Misty Schaumkel, Jordan Shannahan, Jake Shaw, Jack Shearman, Teagan Walton and Torin Welch.

A great team to take away who all represented the College with pride.

TOP PERFORMANCES:

Olivia Johnson - 5th Intermediate Girls 200m Final

Caitlin Jenkins  - 5th Senior Girls 200m Final

Michaela-Vei Leota-Cracknell - 8th Senior Girls 200m Final

Caleb Moore - 4th Senior Boys 200m Final

CHBC Intermediate Boys - 3rd 4 X 100m Relay

Cailtin Jenkins - 3rd Senior Girls 800m

Amy-Grace Jones - 2nd Junior Girls 300m

Johanna Nieuwenhuis - 3rd Senior Girls Discus 1st Senior Girls Javelin.