Athletes track towards Timaru

The New Zealand Secondary School Athletics Championships are on track for Timaru next month.

The organising committee is ready for more than 1500 students to descend on the Aorangi All-weather Track for the weekend of December 12-13.

The numbers attending make it the biggest track and field event ever held in Timaru.

Organising committee chairman Kevin O'Sullivan said it also had the largest range of events, with the sprints always popular. Middle-distance running was making a resurgence.

It will be the first time the event has been held in Timaru since its inception in 1973. That year three Timaru athletes including Don Garland, who is helping organise this year's championships, claimed medals.

Garland, representing Timaru Boys' High School, was the runner-up in the senior boys' 100m while St Patrick's took out two medals.

Chris Tobin finished first equal in the 1500m while Gerard Scott won bronze in the javelin at QEII in Christchurch, where the meeting was held in preparation for the Commonwealth Games.

O'Sullivan said they had been working on the event for a couple of years and lobbying for it before that. "Once we knew the grandstand was going in, it made things easier. We are also the smallest centre to host them, which is quite an achievement."

Trust Aoraki, the local gaming charity, will be the major sponsor.

Principal officer Murray Cleverley said they were proud to be associated with the championships as the event promoted excellence and participation.

It will be a special occasion for three athletes who will be defending their titles won in Hamilton last year.

Tom Walsh of TBHS will be defending his shotput title.

Daniel Lord is hot favourite among the men in the track walk. Lucinda Shaw of Roncalli is the favourite among the women.

- © Fairfax NZ News