Dominant effort from young athletes at Tasman champs

Marlborough’s young athletes ensured their trip to Nelson for the recent Tasman junior athletics championships was well worthwhile, producing a string of personal bests and setting three new records.

Fifty-five athletes from Marlborough crossed the Whangamoas for the two-day event, staged at Saxton Field on February 27-28.

James Hansen and Brooke Harper were the Marlborough record-setters. James broke the previous 15 boys 400m mark with a time of 52.51 seconds and the 110m hurdles record in 15.73 sec, Brooke eclipsing the 13 girls long jump record with a leap of 5.12m.

Several Marlborough athletes picked up overall Tasman champion titles. They were: 5 girls - Ellie Morley; 6 girls - Charlotte Cornelius; 9 girls - Flo Paula; 11 girls - Hannah Harper; 12 girls - Isla Tilbury; 13 girls - Brooke Harper; 9 boys - Harry MacNeil; 11 boys - Callum Rayner; 12 boys - Drew Materoa; 14 boys - Ronan West; 15 boys - James Hansen.

The organisers did a great job to avoid the second day being cancelled as the country moved into level two Covid restrictions.

The next event for the top Marlborough athletes will be representing Tasman in Palmerston North over Easter in the interprovincial championships, a national event for 12 and 13-year-olds.

Marlborough athletes selected are: Isla Tilbury, Neve Mackenzie, Drew Mataroa, Alex Hansen David Potts, Elijah O’Connell, Brooke Harper, Bella Rayner and Alex Craig.