North Canterbury has a new National Champion for 2020. Fourteen year old Jess Hendren, won the National Under 18 High Jump title, at the NZ Athletics Championships, at Nga Puna Wai, over the weekend. Starting at 1.58m, Hendren didn’t miss a jump through to her winning mark of 1.74m. Her closest rivals, Olivia Power, Claudia Knight and Jenna Johnston, all went out at 1.66m. Hendren heads to Australia soon, to represent NZ Secondary Schools.
Rangiora New Life student Zach Lappin, picked up gold, silver, and bronze, in the Para Javelin, Discus, and Shot Put events, respectively. North Canterbury Athletics club member, Hunter Archbold also picked up a bronze medal in the U18 Triple Jump, and 10th in the Long Jump. And another medalist from the North Canterbury club was Jade Kruger, who was a member of the Canterbury U18 women’s 4x100m relay team that finished second. Kruger also finished 6th her the U18 100m final, and had the 9th fastest time in the 200m.
Rising thrower, 14 year old Ben Phillips, also from the North Canterbury Athletics club, finished 4th in the U18 Shot Put, and 5th in the Discus. Rangiora High School athlete Kaitlin Feather also just missed the podium with a 4th in the U18 Long Jump, and 6th in the 100m Hurdles.
Former Rangiora High School athlete, Abbey Ladd was 9th in the U20 Discus. Another former Rangiora High School athlete competing was Angie Petty (nee Smit), who is aiming for the Tokyo Olympics later in the year. She was pipped by Katherine Camp in her favoured 800m, but bounced back to win the senior women’s 1500m race.
Lillie Rayner, from the North Canterbury Athletics club, was competing in the U18 400m, but missed a place in the final.