New Zealand Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships

After the end of Term 4, 28 athletes represented Auckland Grammar School at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Athletics and Road Race Championships in Inglewood from Friday 9 – Sunday 11 December. Most of the team were young and competing for the first time at nationals, but the team displayed great enthusiasm and resilience and consequently achieved some impressive results.

In the Junior competition, Form 4 student C. P. Wagener finished third in the 3000m in 8:39.47, followed closely by Form 5 student A. V. Wilkins in fourth place. Form 3 student L. C. R. Thomson qualified for the semi-finals of the 100m event, and fellow classmate M. K. Jacobs impressed with eighth place in the Shot Put with a throw of 11.37m.

Form 4 student C. G. Howlett was sixth in both the 400m and the 300m hurdles. The final highlight of the junior competition were the relays, where Howlett and Thomson alongside Form 3 student M. M. Browne and Form 4 student S. C Paris secured bronze in the 4x100m. Howlett then combined with Wagener, Wilkins and Form 4 student S. C. Randerson to win gold in the 4x400m relay.

In the senior grade, first-year senior J. A. Thomson ran a strong 100m and 200m, both of which led him into the semi-finals. Even though he ran the eighth fastest time, he missed the 100m finals due to being in a fast heat. Other qualifications for semi-finals included Form 5 student R. W. Fitzpatrick and Form 6 student J. E. M. Park in the 800m, while Form 6 student Q. R. Gardiner-Hall was fifth in the racewalk.

In the road races on Sunday, the School was represented by eight competitors in the Year 9 category who performed well, with Form 3 students M. J. K. Capamagian , X. R. Clark, T. C. L. MacDonald, A. A. McPherson, J. A. Smith and M. E. Wilkins combining to win bronze in the six-man team.

In the Junior race, C. P. Wagener and A. V. Wilkins contested a sprint finish to decide silver and bronze, with Wilkins just edging his team-mate by two seconds in a time of 12:20. Form 4 student K. J. Moyle also finished strongly and these three claimed the three-man team gold.

In the Senior 6km race, Form 6 student J. A. Mora was in control from start to finish. Consequently, he became the National Senior Road Race Champion with an impressive performance of 18:12, which, once confirmed, will set the new Under 18 Men’s National record.