Green or black in the future for Abby O'Boyle?

There is a bit of debate in Abby O’Boyle’s household.

Dad (Frank) is Irish, Mum (Jenny) is Kiwi; if Abby gets selected for a national team Dad thinks she will look best in the Green of Ireland, Mum the black of NZ.

Abby, along with Gore’s Millie McFadzien, is one of Southland’s most exciting distance running

prospects.

In keeping with the proven Sport NZ policy of “balance is better” (i.e don’t specialise too early) the talented 13 year old is experiencing a number of sports.

As she puts it, “At the moment I play Netball, basketball, touch and volleyball and obviously athletics. I grew up playing football from a very young age but had to give it up with high school approaching so decided to switch to netball”.

But it’s athletics that has given her the most success.

This year she won golds as a 12-year-old in the Colgate 1500 and 800 and silver in the high jump. Her first ever try at the 2km steeplechase put her on the New Zealand U18 rankings. And in her first national event, the New Zealand cross country champs she placed 2nd in the U14 race.

Her time in the Colgates 1500 was under 5 minutes. Her coach, who has coached quite a few national champions and internationals, has never had a 12-year-old break 5 minutes before, let alone a 13 or 14-year old.

Asked what sport she would take the furthest, she said, “I pick athletics because I definitely prefer it over all my other sports”.

Sport prowess obviously runs in the family.

Abby says of Dad, “Gaelic football when he was growing up in Ireland, football, still playing now, ran 3000 and 5000 in his teenage years even run a sub 3.30 marathon. He likes to bike with me while I’m running too.”

Mum ran cross country as a youngster but these past few years netball has been the serious focus although touch, football and volleyball have had a role.

Usually Abby is a bright, bouncy, bubbly teenager but on the track, course or court she puts her game face on. It’s all serious then. How far will it take her? That remains to be seen. But the question still remains – will it be green or will it be black?