Medal haul for Southland team at national athletics champs
A massive 5m personal best throw by Teagan Ashley was just one of the highlights by Southland athletes at the New Zealand track and field championships in Christchurch.
Teagan’s 43.31m hammer throw earnt her a silver medal in the under 20 women’s competition, and qualification for the Australian track and field championships at the end of the month, her first overseas competition.
After taking part in the senior women’s event against the likes of national record holder Julia Ratcliffe earlier in the meet, Teagan had to show some resilience to post a new personal best with her third throw.
“I was pretty chuffed coming away with a 5m PB and the silver medal. I’ve been working really well with my coach Raylene Bates and that really paid off. The conditions were good and I’d had good prep coming into it so I was set up pretty well,” she said.
Photo: Academy Southland and Southland athletics hammer thrower Teagan Ashley. Pic: Nathan Burdon
“I knew that I had a big one coming, I was just hoping that it would be that weekend and it was, but there’s still more to come.”
The Aparima College deputy head girl said her experiences coming through the Academy Southland programme had been vital to her performance at Nga Puna Wai.
“I use that stuff every day, especially the mental skills coaching from Jason McKenzie, and things like time management.”
Despite sending a small team to Christchurch, Athletics Southland coaches Lance Smith and Chris Knight would have been pleased with their medal haul.
Former Academy Southland athlete Jess Senior, now based in Christchurch, won bronze in the senior women’s javelin and current Academy member Sam Colyer won silver in both the under 20 long jump and under 20 triple jump.
A number of promising young athletes have also been training in the Academy’s Mike Piper Training Centre under strength and conditioning coach Tyson Huia.
Quinn Hartley had an outstanding meet, winning both the under 18 and under 20 long jump and claiming a bronze medal in the senior men’s high jump.
Trent Hogg won bronze in the under 18 discus and under 20 shot put. Sam McDonald won silver in the under 18 triple jump despite being a steeplechaser who has only dabbled in triple jump previously and Tessa Baird won bronze in the under 18 triple jumps.
Another Southland team member, Kennedy Taylor won bronze in the under 18 steeplechase.
Amonst the other Southland athletes involved who were competing for other centres, Tori Peeters continued her strong form with a meet and resident record on the way to winning the senior women’s javelin and Andrew Allan took out the senior men’s triple jump.
Dyani Shepherd-Oates, stepping up to the senior ranks for the first time, threw below her best in the women’s hammer to finish sixth amongst the New Zealand competitors and seventh overall.
