Tasman's Bailey Cotton never dreamed he would be standing atop the awards podium at the New Zealand Track and Field Championships when he started athletics at age four.

He still didn't dream it when he loaded himself into the starting blocks before Sunday's M20 200m final at the NZ Champs in Hamilton.

But he started to believe it not long after the starter's pistol echoed off the Porritt Stadium track.

"I came around the bend and I could see that I was catching the leaders," Cotton said.

"I got so excited. I was not expecting this at all."

His powerful burst took him past the leaders in the final 40 metres and propelled him to victory in 22.25sec, two metres ahead of New Zealand Secondary Schools Champion Nick Smith of Wellington.

The gold medal was even more surprising than the bronze he won in the 400m the day before in 50.48sec. He said the credit goes to Cotton's coach, Nayland College teacher Dennis Kale.

"I cut six seconds off my 200m time since he started coaching me five years ago," Cotton said.

"I have been steadily climbing the ladder every year."

Tasman finished the meet with 15 total medals, including five gold.

Article courtesy the Nelson Mail.