2018 HNHS School Magazine HNHS Magazine 2018 | Page 48

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Athletics
In late October the Reading Trophy/ Lydiard Cup
competition took place. The girls team won the trophy for
the fifth consecutive year, doubling the points of their nearest
opponent with an emphatic win. The boys competed strongly,
finishing a close third, their best result for a long time. Once
again in the girls, Jess Tucker and Laura Johnson starred,
as did Georgia Paterson, Jeanette Steyn and Greer Edilson.
Kane Elms and Finlay Keip starred for the boys.
At the end of 2017, the NZSS champs were hosted by
Hastings, with the school having two podium finishes.
Georgia Hulls though, in winning the 100m, pulled up lame,
which prevented her from trying to add more to her bulging
stash. She was due to run the 400m which she was favourite,
the 4x100 in which the team had qualified second fastest
and the 4x400m. The other medalists were the 6-man road
race Year 9 team who were second, members being Cameron
Potts, Adam Engelke, Sam Bird, Cole Fletcher, Alex van
Oeveren and Max Buller.
After some exciting performances at school sports, a
team of 60 was selected for the East Coast NISS athletics
championships held at the regional sports park. The Year 9
and 10 athletes had already shown their skills at the relays
held in early February, with the boys winning the 4x800m
and girls the 4x400m as well as the 3xdiscus.
At the ECNISS champs, the team had an outstanding day,
winning 18 titles. There were 9 each for both girls and boys.
The boys generally have to battle hard to win many, but an
outstanding effort had them second only to Lindisfarne for
titles won. Kane Elms was far too strong over the senior
1500m and 3000m; his solo effort in trying to break the
1500m record just falling short. Junior, Alex van Oeveren
helped himself to three junior titles, 80m hurdles, 100m and
the pole vault, with single wins achieved by Marnus Kruger
(senior discus), and intermediates, Sam Wait (long jump),
Liam O’Reilly (triple jump) and Cameron Potts (2000m
steeplechase). The intermediate girls shone brightest in the
girls competition, with Jess Tucker winning the 100m and
200m, as well as being a member of the 4x100 relay team
that won along with Laura Johnson, Georgia Paterson and
Jeannette Steyn. Laura also won the long and triple jump.
In the seniors, Jenna Tidswell won the 800m and Erin Kelly
won the pole vault while junior girls, Elle Lovatt (100m)
and Sarah Tong (Triple jump) were both successful.
All in all, another fantastic year for the athletics group, with
fantastic help from numerous coaches from the athletic club.
Four school athletes represented East Coast at the NISS
championships, with Erin Kelly winning the senior pole
vault. Kane Elms was 4th in the 3000m and Laura Johnson
had a 6th in the triple jump. Jess Tucker was the other HNHS
representative in the team.
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