Mackle raises the bar

NATASHA MARTIN/Timaru Herald

ON TRACK: Stevie Young, of Timaru Girls' High School, competes in the under-19 girls' 100m hurdles at yesterday's Mid-South Canterbury Secondary School Athletics competition at the Aorangi all-weather track.

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For the second year in a row, teenager Nicola Mackle has set the bar for others to follow.

The Craighead pupil was one of eight athletes to break a record at the Aoraki Secondary Schools' Athletics competition held at Aorangi Park yesterday.

Mackle set a record in the under-19 girls' high jump, smashing the previous mark of 1.60m set in 1989 with a jump of 1.73m.

Her record could already be in the sights of another South Canterbury jumper, though. Mountainview High School pupil Lee-Ann McKenzie jumped 1.70m in the under-16 high jump, beating the previous record of 1.61m - set by Mackle last year.

Regional sports director Bob Pringle said the eight broken records, and another record that was equalled this year, had helped make the event a huge success.

Other records broken:

Brittany Cannell, Roncalli College, U14 girls' 200m 27.2secs (equalled record set in 2007)

Blair Grant, Waitaki Boys' High School, U16 boys' 100m 11.2secs (Blair set a new mark of beating 11.4secs jointly held by 4 athletes)

Megan McPhail, Waitaki Girls', U16 100m 12.4secs (record was 12.6secs, set in 1998)

Caitlin Henderson, Timaru Girl' HS, U15 girls' javelin 33.67m (record was 33.28m, set in 2008)

Daniel Autridge, Opihi College (2 records), AWD/PD/ID (Athletes with a disability, Daniel is visually impaired) -100m 14.5secs (record was 15.8secs, 2004), 200m 29.7secs (38.8secs, blitzed by Daniel, set in 2004)

Waitaki Boys' High School, U16 4 x 100m relay, 45.9secs (46.5secs was the record).

- Herald staff

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