Wed, Jan 19, 2022 12:29 PM
Peter Jones
After demonstrating their prowess at the recent North Island Colgate Games, Marlborough’s junior athletes underlined their abilities at the South Island Games in Invercargill last weekend.
The Marlborough contingent picked up six gold, six silver and six bronze medals in the deep south.
Once again middle distance runner Isla Tilbury showed the way, taking out the 400m-800m double as she did in Wellington, the two-lap race in a new record time of 2.16.8.
Brooke Harper marked her final Colgate Games with a couple of medals, winning the 14 girls 100m in 12.84 and adding bronze in the 200m.
Elijah O’Donnell also had a memorable time, taking out the 13 boys 1500m, claiming silver in the long jump and being part of the gold medal-winning 13s medley relay combination alongside Isla, Alex Hansen, Drew Materoa and Neve Mackenzie. Neve set a new Marlborough record when placing second in the 13 girls 1500m.
More than 800 young athletes took part in the SI Games, which were staged at Surrey Park, Invercargill. This year, 69 clubs participated.
GOLD (6)
Isla Tilbury 13 Girls 400m & 800m (Marlborough record)
Brooke Harper 14 Girls 100m
Elijah O'Donnell 13 Boys 1500m
Cooper Paulo 11 Boys High Jump
Medley Relay 13s (Alex Hansen, Elijah O'Donnell, Drew Materoa, Isla Tilbury, Neve Mackenzie)
SILVER (6)
Sophie Cambell 11 Girls High Jump
Louis Thomas 12 Boys Long Jump
Hannah Harper 12 Girls High Jump
Neve Mackenzie 13 Girls 1500m (Marlborough record)
Elijah O'Donnell 13 Boys Long Jump
Callum Rayner 12 Boys Race Walk
BRONZE (5)
Brooke Harper 14 Girls 200m
Drew Materoa 13 Boys High Jump
Relay 4×100 12 Boys (Callum Rayner, Cooper Paulo, Louis Thomas, Thomas Blackmore)
Relay 4x 100 11 Girls (Sophie Campbell, Maddie Thomas, Flo Paulo, Harriet Cornelius, Leia Shaw)
Relay Medley 12s (Maisie Cornelius, Hannah Harper, Thomas Blackmore, Callum Rayner, Louis Thomas)