In their own words: Sam Colyer and Takunda Mabonga
In the final preview ahead of next week’s New Zealand Secondary Schools athletics champs in Wellington, Lance Smith looks at Southland’s recent dominance of the triple jump and profiles two strong medal chances in the event.
What is it with Southland and the triple jump? Southland has a proud record in the event at NZSS. Last year Andrew Allan won the senior boys for the second year, while Quinn Hartley won the junior boys. The previous year Sam Colyer took out the junior boys, making it a Southland double the last two years. (Tegan Chapman, of Dunstan High, also won the junior girls in 2017, and while not a Southland school she had a Southland coach).
Three of the four meet records belong to Southlanders – Jade Graham (junior girls), Atipa Mabonga (senior girls) and Colyer (junior boys).
Atipa (CSC) won three senior titles in a row, as did Greer Alsop (SGHS) before her. Both girls, along with Charlotte Muschamp, the senior winner ten year ago, won athletic scholarships to American universities.
But that was then. This is now. Will the tradition continue? Sam Colyer (SBHS), Atipa’s brother Takunda and Quinn Hartley certainly hope so.
Hartley, junior winner last year is still a junior, with Colyer and Mabonga contenders in the senior competition.
Photo: Takunda Mabonga, left, and Sam Coyler. Pic: Supplied
It will make for an exciting contest. Sam Colyer and Takunda Mabonga are both nationally ranked with just a few centimetres separating them, have different coaches and train separately. They are good friends, but fierce rivals.
Colyer is the more experienced of the two. He is the current Southland Athlete of the Year, represented New Zealand with a long jump silver medal from the Oceania Championships, holds the junior NZSS triple jump record and was second in the U18 triple jump at this year’s NZ champs, with Takunda third.
We questioned the pair to find out more about their athletics journey to date, and plans for the future.
What is your favourite jump?
Sam: Long Jump.
Takunda: Definitely has to be triple jump
How long have you been in athletics and what got you started?
Sam: When I was 10 years old I jumped 1.26m in high jump and I guess that started my passion for the sport.
Takunda: I’ve been in athletics for as long as I can remember, mum always took us down so we could be involved and had something to do
Has it always been jumps, or do you do or have done other events?
Sam: I’ve done sprints but always done the jumping events.
Takunda: I was a distance runner before and never thought of triple jump until this year
What’s ahead for you do the rest of the season?
Sam: We still have NZSSA, NZ champs, hopefully Australian Nationals and possibly Oceania Games and World U20 champs.
Takunda: All my training is for the triple jump competition in Wellington
What are your future long-term goals?
Sam: To keep improving and not give up on the sport, as long as the passion is behind it.
Takunda: To represent New Zealand. Maybe even get a scholarship and train overseas.
Takunda, has having your sister one of the country’s best triple jumpers affected your choice of events?
Takunda: Atipa has definitely influenced the way I see triple jump. But I have grown to love it this year
Last year when Andrew won, the TJ was one of the closest and most exciting competitions of the games. It’s sure to be again this year. What are your thoughts in coping with the pressure?
Sam: I know most of the competition so having my mates around me and having a great time will ease off the pressure of my jumping.
Takunda: I use the pressure to drive myself to do the extra work. I want to make sure it’s easier for me so I do the work, drills etc.. The pressure gets too me and sometimes it stresses me out, but I definitely use it as motivation to work harder
SBHS and CSC has had a number of well performed athletes in the past? Do they still, and how supportive is your school?
Sam: SBHS has supported me from the day I started there, I couldn’t thank them enough for everything that they have done for me.
Takunda: CSC is such a supportive school, the staff are always looking out for you, and they make you feel like one of their own.
What is your proudest sporting moment so far?
Sam: My proudest sporting moment would be competing at the Oceania Games in Townsville and jumping a personal best of 6.98m.
Takunda: Seeing my name 3rd on the NZ rankings list. I never really thought of myself as a good athlete, but when I saw this it gave me so much motivation
What other sports do you do or have done?
Sam: I used to play Rugby, Basketball and touch but now my main focus is athletics.
Takunda: Over the years I’ve played soccer, rugby and I currently play basketball as well
