On your marks! Another Southland track and field season is here
“We are excited for the start of the new summer athletics season and have some new short, sharp events planned to appeal to both new athletes and some of our more established athletes.”
“I don’t see it as a season start but as a continuation of what’s gone before.”
That’s the message from Southland Track & Field chairperson Jane Muir on Saturday’s Southland athletic season at Surrey Park.
Muir (formerly Jane Arnott) is probably New Zealand’s most accomplished sprinter, winning 13 national championships (including 10 consecutive 400m titles) to go with her Commonwealth Games and World Championship appearances.
She has gone from leading the field to leading the organising committee for Southland athletics.
Last season ended on a high with 15 medals from the New Zealand championships (including 3 golds from Abby O’Boyle), James McLeay’s first national title (U20 mile) and selection to the World U20 Champs in Peru where he made the 1500m final.
Colgates, NZ Secondary Schools, and South Island Secondary School champs also produced a bevy of Southland triumphs, and internationally three young Southlanders made New Zealand team to compete overseas.
To Jane Muir and the Track & Field organising committee the new season is seen as building on seasons past but with an injection of new ideas and an emphasis on providing opportunities for all ages who like to run, jump or throw, whatever the level.
This includes the regular athletic programme events as well as coaching clinics, a new series for high school athletes, a variety of new events that add a huge dose of fun to regular competition and a new approach to junior competition (Waverley Shield).
With the NZ Secondary School champs (the biggest track meet of the season) not far away and Colgates for the younger ones not long after you can also expect to see some top-level athletics at Surrey Park in the weeks ahead.
As Jane Muir says; “We are excited for the start of the new summer athletics season and have some new short, sharp events planned to appeal to both new athletes and some of our more established athletes.”
Saturday is just the beginning. What lies ahead? Watch this space.