Young Southland athletes clean up at Colgate Games

Many of Southland’s young athletes were in Timaru on the weekend for the South Island Colgate Games.

Among the many athletes to shine were Cody Lawson from Athletics Invercargill (4 gold and 2 silver) and Abby O’Boyle from St Paul’s Athletic Club (3 golds), two Max’s from Gore - Max Wiegersma (2 golds) and Max McGregor (a gold, silver and bronze) and Charlotte Hawkes from St Pauls Athletics Club (3 gold and 1 bronze).

For 14-year-old Cody Lawson it’s been a very busy couple of weekends with competing at the North Island Colgate Games the weekend before where he placed 2nd in the 400m, 3rd in the 200m (both times beating the current Southland best performances in his grade), 5th in the 100m and 2nd in the 100m hurdles.

Caption: Cody Lawson, left. Photo: Supplied

In Timaru on another very busy weekend he won gold in the 400m beating his best time again, gold in the 200m, was a member of the winning 4x100m boys relay and a member of the winning mixed medley relay. Silver in the 100m and silver in the 100m hurdles capped off an exceptional performance which was recognised by being presented with one of four Nick Willis Scholarships.

Thirteen-year-old Abby O’Boyle also led the charge winning the Girls 13 High Jump by 7cm, and running from the front to demolish the fields in both the 800m and 1500m. The 1500m victory was very impressive given the conditions, with high temperatures on the track on Sunday.

Thirteen-year-old Max McGregor completed an impressive three-medal haul over three very competitive races, including winning gold in the 1500m on a hot Sunday afternoon with an impressive last 400m sprint. Picking up silver in 800m and bronze in the 400m showed his versatility across the distances.

Twelve-year-old Max Wiegersma also showed his skill and judgment in winning both the 800m and 1500m, the victory in the 800m coming with a well-timed sprint finish. In the 1500m he showed his ability to not get sucked into other athletes’ tactics when on the second lap one of the competitors took off. Max and fellow Southland athlete Ferguson Hammond (Winton) held back from chasing him and picked him up on the penultimate lap. It was then a case of the two Southland athletes having a great battle on the final lap with Max pulling away with a burst of speed with 300m to go that he held until the finish. Ferguson finished a brilliant second to add to his victory in the 12 Boys high jump.

Eleven-year-old Charlotte Hawkes (St Paul’s athletic club) had a very busy and successful weekend placing first with run-from-the-front victories in the 800m and 1500m, placing third in the 400m and being a member of the 11 grade mixed medley relay gold medalist St Paul’s team.

Other athletes to shine included 12-year-old Zoe Muir from Wyndham Athletics club - silver in the Girls 800m and a surprise silver medal in the discus after throwing a 4m personal best.

Thirteen-year-old Will Brown (Invercargill club) showed his jumping ability when he pulled out a 26cm personal best to win the boys 13 long jump by 2cm to add to his second place in the high jump from earlier in the competition.

In the 11 boys grade 2 St Paul’s athletes had a great weekend. Hunter Flowers won two silver medals for the 1500m and 400m and gold as part of the medley relay. Brock Smith finished a close bronze in the 1500m, bronze in the 800m, bronze in the 400m and gold as part of the mixed medley.

Southland also had two Para athletes competing. Brother and sister duo Jonti and Londyn Dillinger (both from St Paul’s athletics club), had very busy and successful weekends. Jonti came away with gold in the 100m, 200m, silver in 400m, long jump and discus. Sister Londyn took gold in 200m, discus and 400m, silver in long jump and 100m.

This is just a snapshot of what was a fantastic weekend for Southland athletes. For a full list of medal winners please go to the Athletics Southland Facebook page.