Tākaka athletes in season finale

SUBMITTED

Seven athletes from Tākaka Athletics Club (TAC) took part in the Tasman Centre Championships over the final weekend of February.

Those from Golden Bay joined their counterparts from Marlborough, Nelson, Richmond, and Motueka clubs at Saxton Track, with athletes entering up to four track and field events each day.

The top three finishers in each event were awarded ribbons and TAC athletes brought home their fair share across numerous disciplines. Over the two days of competition each individual’s placing was awarded points which were totted up to decide the Tasman age grade champions.

Four members of the Tākaka team came very close to being crowned champion in their age group, with Cooper Strange runnerup in the 10-year-old boy’s category, while Ruby Darwen, who ended the weekend with several ribbons and season’s bests, picked up third place

SOLLYS Contractors

EARTHMOVING & CONTRACTING:

House sites, driveways

Culvert installations

Drainage

Land development

Farm maintenance

Ph 525 9843

FOR ALL YOUR CARTAGE in the 13-year-old girl’s competition. In the 15-year-old girl’s category Iyla Lamason and Ella Baigent took second and third place respectively.

But it wasn’t all about the awards. At just 6 years-old, and entering his first proper competition of the season, Charlie Baigent showed great enthusiasm and sportsmanship, and improved season’s bests in all of the five events he competed in. And demonstrating steely determination, 11-year-old Warren

Hitchcock came away with a season’s best in the shot put.

The Tasman Centre Championships marks the final event on TAC’s calendar for the season which has been a vast improvement on the covid-affected 2021/2022 season. While the number of registered athletes declined, a keen group of youngsters emerged who all improved their season’s bests and were well supported by an enthusiastic committee, volunteers and parents.

Results (Tākaka club athletes)

Boys: Charlie Baigent (age 6): 60m, 12.16s (0.64s better); 80m, 15.3s (3.2s better); 100m, 20.23s (0.57s better); long jump, 2.16m; discus, 6.18m (0.05m better); shot put, 3.76m(0.33m better). Cooper Strange (age 10): 100m, 14.83s, 2nd; 200m, 30.95s (0.67s better), 2nd; 400m, 70.95s, 2nd; 800m, 2:57.39s, 3rd; high jump, 1.20m, 2nd; long jump, 3.83m, 2nd; shot put, 6.34m (0.03m better). Warren Hitchcock (age 11): shot put, 5.00m (0.22m better); discus, 9.37m.

Girls: Paige Baigent (age 13): shot put, 7.85m (0.21m better), 3rd; discus, 17.71m (0.41m better); long jump, 4.41m (0.12m better), 2nd; high jump, 1.25m; 100m, 14.78s; 200m, 30.62s. Ruby Darwen (age 13): high jump, 1.45m (0.05m better), 1st; long jump, 4.42m (0.02m better), 1st; 400m, 65.48s (2.5s better), 2nd; 100m, 14.38s, 3rd; 200m, 29.39s (0.67s better); 800m, 2:43.39s (4.24s better); discus, 16.96m(2.37m better), shot put 7.14m. Ella Baigent (age 15): shot put, 8.51m ,2nd; long jump, 2.90m, 3rd; discus, 13.19m, 3rd. Iyla Lamason (age 15): 100m, 15.17s, 2nd; 200m, 31.81s (0.08s better), 2nd; high jump 1.30m (0.05m better), 2nd; long jump, 3.96m, 2nd; discus, 14.17m (0.22m better), 2nd; shot put, 5.65m, 3rd.