Hand just misses gold

MATT BOWEN/Eastern Courier

DETERMINED: James Hand, 18, wants to one day run on the track at the Olympics.

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Just 0.4 seconds came between James Hand and a national running title.

The 18-year-old missed out on the 1500 metre title at the national secondary school athletics championships in Hamilton.

"Last year he came fourth in the event so he was determined to get a medal this year," his mother Judy Hand says.

James was Pakuranga College sportsperson of the year and is the Auckland secondary school 1500 metre senior champion.

He’s planning to study engineering at Auckland University this year and continue to compete, coached by David Drummond.

James says he’ll keep pushing to reach his goals.

"I’d like to get over to the United States and run there and I’d be happy to get to the Olympics," he says.

Joining James in taking medals at the nationals was a score of athletes from local secondary schools.

Katrina Anderson from Howick College won the 400m senior sprint and fellow student Emily Kinsler took gold in the junior 800m.

Emily also helped Katrina Anderson, Rachael and Sarah Catley to a second place in the 400m senior relay.

In the junior 3000m Brigitte Hicks from Saint Kentigern College took silver.

And Howick College’s Tamara Anstis placed second in senior high jump while Paige Harwood from Botany Downs College took gold in the junior triple jump.

Sancta Maria’s Lucy McGall placed third in the open pole vault.

And athlete with a disability Chelsea Seagar brought home five golds for Macleans College.

Saint Kentigern’s Luke Ibbs leapt to second in the junior triple jump and Peter Callagher of Howick College took silver in the 110m senior hurdles.

- © Fairfax NZ News