Time for the region's talent to be measured

BY PENNY MILES

Wellington's best college athletes have been training throughout the winter for their shot at glory in Timaru this weekend at the New Zealand secondary schools athletics championships.

Penny Miles previews Wellington's leading medal hopes.

Keeley O'Hagan (Otaki College) - Junior high jump and long jump

Otaki's O'Hagan is favourite for the junior girls' high jump. The 15-year-old was second in the event last year with a jump of 1.71m.

Since then she has made significant improvement and has regularly been recording leaps at her personal best of 1.75m. The latest at Newtown Park within the past fortnight.

Last year she was fourth in the junior long jump. She has improved in that event and now has a best time of 5.54m. If O'Hagan has a good day, she should also place in the long jump medals.

Coached by John Turner in Paraparaumu and assisted in Wellington by Mike Ritchie, O'Hagan can't wait for the championships to begin.

"For the high jump I think I have a good chance," she said.

"For the long jump, there are five of us who are close and it will just depend on the weather and the day."

Nathan Barrett (Scots College) - Senior 1500m

Barrett represented New Zealand at the IAAF world junior athletics championships in Italy this year. He missed qualifying for the final but was 16th overall, all while running out of season in the New Zealand winter. He has been working with his Auckland-based coach John Bowden for six months and has high hopes in what will be his swansong secondary schools event.

After races in Auckland, Palmerston North and Wellington this season, Barrett has been undefeated over 1500m. His best time is 3min 53sec. "If everything goes to plan, I'd be extremely disappointed if I didn't come home with at least something," Barrett said.

Leesa Lealai-Salanoa (St Mary's College) - Senior discus and shot put

Lealai-Salanoa, the College Sport Wellington girls' athlete of the year, won the junior girls' discus and shot put titles at the same event in Hamilton last year. She also set a secondary schools national junior discus record of 46.22m.

In her first year as a senior athlete, Lealai-Salanoa will face stronger competition. Such is her quality however, she should medal in both throwing events. She is ranked second in the discus and third in the shot put.

Melody Stein (Paraparaumu College) - Senior long and triple jump

In a promising buildup, Stein, 16, recorded a personal best triple jump of 11.53m at Newtown Park two weeks ago. She began competing in the triple jump only last year and has made rapid improvement under coach Tony Brunner, who is the father of Olympic representative Chantal Brunner.

Stein says she will be wary of Waikato-Bay of Plenty triple jumper Katherine Camp. "It's going to be awesome, I can't wait," Stein said. "I'll just see what happens, give it a go and have fun."

Kieron McDonald (Scots College) - Junior 800m or 1500m

McDonald, 15, was last year one of the youngest runners to qualify for the junior 800m final. He is running on form and has set personal bests in both the 1500m in 4min 09.52sec, and 800m in 1min 59.61sec, during the past month. He won the year 9 road race title last year.

"This is the highlight of the year, it's the biggest event," he said. "I've got a pretty good chance, so I'll be going for it."

Ryan Tinkle (Wellington College) - Senior hammer, discus, shot put

Year 13 student Tinkle was last month named College Sport Wellington boys' athlete of the year. He won the senior hammer and was second in the discus at the secondary schools' nationals last year. The 17-year-old has the benefit of overseas experience and represented New Zealand at the IAAF world junior track and field championships in Italy this year.

Tinkle's best hammer throw is 64m, while his discus best is 54m.

"There's good competition and I'm hoping to win hammer and discus and win a medal in shot put. It should be pretty tough," Tinkle said.

Anna Roche (Samuel Marsden) - Senior 800m

Roche was selected to represent New Zealand at the IAAF world junior athletics championships this year but was forced to withdraw through injury.

Last month she won the 800m at the regional teams' meet in 2min 17.91sec and has recovered from the stress fracture and shin splints which hampered her at the end of last season.

Roche heads into the 800m as the third-ranked athlete.

Stephen Isaac (St Pat's Town) - Senior 110m hurdles, open 300m hurdles

Isaac is ranked first in the 110m and second in the 300m hurdles.

Charlotte Smith (Samuel Marsden) - Senior Girls' long jump

Smith won the long jump in Wellington last month at the regional teams' meet in 5.07m. In suitable wind conditions, she will need to jump well over the 5mmark in Timaru to medal.

Event final contenders from Wellington schools: Max Biggs (Scots College) 800m, Jack Oliver (Tawa College) 800m, Ariana Harper (Onslow College) 800m, 1500m, Nick Bingham (Scots College) 3000m.

The first year in the senior age- group rarely brings success, but Elise McIlroy (Chilton) 100m and 200m, Jackson Smith (HIBS) 100m and 200m, Yarrid Rossario (St Pat's Town) 100m and 200m sprints and Kristen Dovey (Queen Margaret) 100m and 200m could surprise.

Tawa College is sending strong road race teams to Timaru and could medal in either the senior boys' or senior girls' events.

Wellington could win gold in the year 9 road race for boys.Barkhad Mohamed (Rongotai), Tim Robertson (HIBS) and Nick Lucie-Smith (Wellington College) carry Wellington's hopes.

Facts And Figures

* 1200 athletes are expected at the Aorangi all-weather track in Timaru.

* Athletes are split into two age categories - junior (under-16) and senior (16 and over).

* 150 Wellington athletes from 22 schools will make the trek south.

* The secondary schools' athletics championships have been a breeding ground for some of New Zealand's Olympic and Commonwealth Games athletes.

* Tawa College, St Pat's Silverstream and Scots College are sending the largest Wellington schools teams.

- © Fairfax NZ News