Otago Athletics by Francine Vella

March Sports Round Up

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We've had a busy start to the school year in the sporting arena.

Athletics has been a focus for Term 1, with our School Athletics Day a highlight on the calendar, with competitive performances, personal bests as well as increased participation and House spirit. 21 students competed in March at the Otago Secondary Schools with some impressive results. Leila East Giles won the U16 Long Jump and was second in the 100 metres. Rebecca Dalphin was first in the U14 3000 metres. Leila and Rebecca were  joined by Jacob Duffy, Zack Hibbert, Finn Lillis and Flynn Nichols who also qualified for the Otago Southland Athletics Champs on March 25.

In Sailing, Anna Walrond, Year 10 has been selected as one of two top 20 sailors from the National Sailing Open BIC in January and will now compete in Bermuda in June. In Surf Life Saving, Annie Kennedy Atchison, Year 11 competed at the Otago Regional Champs in February and won the individual U16 Ski Race and won Gold in the overall Blue Riband U19 Ironman event. She is training for the nationals later in March.

We have 12 Futsal teams, 9 tennis teams, 6 volleyball teams competing in local competitions as well as 2 Handball teams competing in the new OSSSA and Dodgeball Otago competition. Our mixed team have won all their Handball games so far and are looking strong. Our Senior Boys A Futsal team will compete at the National Futsal Champs in Wellington later in March. 

Kendo Otago and Logan Park have started a school based Kendo club and we have over 20 students involved. 

Congratulations to Jacob Duffy and Lily Menzies who are our Head Boy and Girl of School Sport and will lead the busy Student Sports Council. 22 students attended the Coaches in Schools workshop in March. 

 Our Sports Co-ordinator Ms Vella and Mrs Frost have set up a coaching academy called Logan Park Ace and we have students coaching cricket, touch, volleyball and futsal at Dunedin North Intermediate this term. Many other students are also involved in coaching various Logan Park teams. 

If any parents/caregivers want to help manage, supervise, transport or coach sports team, Ms Vella would love to hear from you (email frv@lphs.school.nz). We are always short of parent helpers and sometimes it is as little as agreeing to be the responsible adult on the sideline at a game.