A number of great articles related to Athletics have been released by Manawatu Standard, highlighting some of the great individual performances made by former and current PNBHS students.

Sprint Events

It is interesting to note that to date, a local athlete is yet to take out the title of the fastest boy in the country, the winner of the senior boys’ 100m sprint. 

Palmerston North Boys’ High School students have taken bronze medals in 1985 through Simon Clavis, Craig Davies in 1989 and Nigel Weekes in 1995. With slightly more success in the junior boys’ races. Davies won the title in 1988 and Scott Walsh in 1995. Eric Austin-Kea completed Boys’ High’s success in this grade, winning the bronze in 2009.

In the 200m Sprints, Hayden Townsend won the senior boys’ gold medals in 2000 and 2001. His father Peter, who represented Whanganui, had won the senior boys’ 100m in 1978. Simon Clavis was the silver medallist in 1985. Bronze medals went to Mark Clavis in 1983; Davies in 1989; Weekes in 1995 and 1996; Shaun MacFarlane (also a current PNBHS teacher) in 2007.

Townsend also had success as a junior boy, winning the title in 1998 and 1999. Davies won in 1988, MacFarlane in 2006 and Angus Lyver in 2019. Bronze medallists were Martin Genet in 1973.

PNBHS student-athletes figured prominently in the 400m events. Sam Higgie was our most successful senior boy, winning the title in 1998 and 1999. Cameron Hayton took home silver in 2003 and bronze. In the junior boys’ section, Cowan was the gold medallist in 1989 and Ben Sutton-Davis in 2003. Paddy Kellow, was third in 2012, improving to take the gold in 2013. Higgie was third in 1996. Silver medallists in the junior boys’ races were Matthew Sexton.

Middle Distance

In the 800-metre races, Hayden Donnelly won Gold in 2008, improving on the bronze medal he won in 2007. In the junior boys’ races, Harrison Porritt won gold in 2015.

PNBHS athletes are yet to achieve a gold-medal-winning performance over 1500m. Richard Burne who is the highest performer in this competition gave Boys’ High a bronze medal in 1974 and, in 1983. In the junior boys’ races, J Butson, in 1975, and Benjamin Wall, in 2016, took home silver medals. Simon Richardson won bronze in 2000.

Great success in winning Gold in the Junior Boys' 3000m, William Morrison in 1992, and Benjamin Wall, in 2016. 

Jumpers

William Hansen, from Palmerston North Boys’ High School, was second in the 110m event in 2002. 

The 400m hurdles was replaced by the 300m hurdles. This was an event in which Boys’ High had success, starting with Larnie Smith winning bronze in 1995. Matthew Skerett took home gold in 1999 and Hansen silver in 2001. Cameron Hayton was the most successful, taking out the title in 2003 then repeating the victory the following year. Quin Hartley was the most recent medal winner, with his silver in 2013.

Looking at the junior boy hurdlers who raced over 100m, Joe Skerman won bronze in 1993. Glen Weitenberg gave the school the 2005 gold medal and Harrison Porritt the silver in 2015.

In the senior boys’ long and triple jump events. Liam Carr, was the triple-jump gold medallist for 2012, adding a long jump bronze in 2013. In the junior boys’ long jump,  Paul Nagel in 1987 and Carr in 2011 won gold. Angus Lyver won silver in 2019. Bronze medals went to Joe Skerman in 1993 and John Kendall in 2007.

In the triple jump, Kendall won Gold in 2007 and Carr in 2011. He was also the bronze medal winner in 2010. Silver medallists were Savau in 1988 and Ashley Mullen in 2006

Credit: Alan Adamson 

Click here to view the articles: 

Manawatū success at past national schools champs revealed

Middle-distance memories of past success come to light

Young Manawatū athletes fly high, long and hurdle fast