Quinn Hartley record breaker

Quinn Hartley has firmly established himself as a medal favourite at the coming NZSS Championship with a recent 2.03m high jump which broke the Southland M16, M18 and M20 records..

As well as the record breaking high jump he also won the long jump with 6.91.

Hartley was the only Southlander to come away from last year’s National Secondary School Champs with three medals, gold in the junior long and triple jumps and a bronze in the high jump.

The tall, rangy 15-year-old will be a junior again this year and is again targeting all three jumps.

Current season performances say he is a favourite in the NZSS, but in top competition anything can happen, and while on paper he is a medalist, competitions are won in the arena, not on paper.

Does this put extra pressure on the 15-year-old James Hargest athlete?  We asked him.

What does being a medal favourite mean to you?

Being a medal favourite comes with a bit of pressure, but I feel as though I can convert this into a good performance at big comps.

Will it affect your approach and build up?

I am confident with my training from both Chris Knight on the track and Tyson Huia at the gym that I am well prepared. However, I want to have a crack at the New Zealand records for all three of the jumps as I was close to them last year.

How long have you been in athletics and what got you started?

I started out when I was 8 as it looked like fun, so I signed up and I have enjoyed it ever since. 

Has it always been jumps, or do you do, or have done, other events?

When I first started, I enjoyed all the events and I was best at the longer distances. As I got older, I picked up other events like shot put and long jump. Now I focus on what I am good at, which is jumps, but I also like to get into doing multi event competitions.

You come from a sporting family.  What support do you get from you parents?

My parents are a huge support for my athletics, and I wouldn’t be in the same position I’m in now if it wasn't for them. Whether it’s dropping me off early in the mornings or travelling to comps they are always there to help.

JHC has had a number of well performed athletes in the past.  Do they still, and how supportive is your school?

JHC doesn't have a lot of athletes doing athletics now but there are some coming through. But it would be good to see new athletes take up the sport. JHC does a great job at giving encouragement for students to compete in athletics and gives them the opportunities to do so.

Do you have a preference in the three jumps?

I enjoy all the jumps and the one I prefer changes a lot. Currently high jump is the event I’m doing really well in so that is what I am enjoying the most. The feeling of clearing a new PB is also pretty cool.

What’s ahead for you the rest of the season?

This season I am planning to compete at the National Secondary Schools and National Champs in High, Long and Triple jump and possibly go to the Australian National Champs.

What are your future long-term goals?

In the future I would like to go as far as I can with athletics and compete at big events like the Olympics and World Champs.

What is your proudest sporting moment so far?

National Secondary Schools, winning the long jump and triple jump and 3rd in high jump. It was great to come away with three pbs in that comp that I didn't think I would win.

What other sports do you do, or have done?

I currently play football over the winter to keep up the fitness and athletics over the rest of the year. In the past I have played many other sports like table tennis and cricket.