Q&A: 12 years running and still wanting more
"It’s weird to look back and think I’ve been doing athletics for 12 years and still have a drive to better myself in the sport."
At the last national athletic champs in March Southland athletes won seven medals in the U16 grades, three in U18, four in U20, and a solitary one in the senior grades.
That solitary senior medal came from Buddy Small in the 3000m steeplechase.
Do these figures suggest our seniors lack ability? No. They say we lack seniors. It’s a fact of life that Southlanders on leaving school invariably leave the region for university study or job.
Buddy is an exception. He is one of the few Southland athletes who have continued their sport without moving away, working for Tetra Pak in Invercargill training to be a service mengineer.
We quizzed him on his thoughts and motivations.
What got you started?
From memory I think I did a 1500m when I was around 10 at primary school and I got 2nd, from there I went to Southland primary schools and got top five. My mum and her brother used to run when they were younger, so mum suggested I give athletics a go.
I went to a St Pauls club night where I found the love for it. It’s weird to look back and think I’ve been doing athletics for 12 years and still have a drive to better myself in the sport.
What other sports?
I had a couple niggly injuries in the last 2 years, so I ended up buying a bike to stay active and keep my legs turning over.
Then from there I figured I may as well start swimming because its less stressful on the body and would improve still give the lungs a good workout.
Seeing I was already doing two of the three disciplines involved with triathlon I decided to give it a try. Taking up triathlon hasn’t really affected my athletics training too much.
I still stick to the training program, I just have to add a few swim and bike sessions in during the week.
Just a sucker for punishment it seems.
What have been your best moments in athletics?
Obviously getting medals at a national level is pretty cool, it’s a reward for putting in the effort.
Recently the standout was probably running a 10sec pb at the start of the year in Christchurch at the Canterbury 3000m champs after a couple average seasons dealing with injury.
The biggest achievement of my career would definitely have to be representing New Zealand at the World Mountain Running Champs in Argentina back in 2019. Being able to compete overseas on that type of stage and have your parents at the finish line as well is a feeling I can’t really describe.
What’s next for you athletically?
I have a few short-term goals I want to tick off - e.g. Sub 9min 3000m, sub 4min 1500m, sub 800m, whether that happens over the 2023-2024 athletics season or not I’d like to get them ticked off.
Long term I’d like to take triathlon a bit more seriously and possibly complete an Ironman, but still compete in athletics because I’m way too competitive for my own good.
What’s your favourite event and training session?
I have two stand-out favourite events, one being the 3000m as it’s not too short and not too long. The other would be the 3000m steeplechase as again its long enough to make me suffer but I find I never get nervous for the steeple as I feel like each competitor has the same goal of not being the guy to fall in the water pit. (I’ve been that guy a few times).
My favourite training session, as much as I dread them, are 3 min reps - 3 min hard effort, 3 min rest repeated five times.
It’s one of those sessions where even the throwers, jumpers, and sprinters down at the track know exactly what Lance us has distance runners doing.
Tell us about your coach?
Lance Smith has been my coach for the last nine years, he’s coached some top-notch athletes i.e., Jordan Rackham, Jack Beaumont, Hannah Miller, Greer Alsop, Charlotte Muschamp and Atipa Mabonga and plenty more (these are the ones I got to train with) all who have gone overseas to complete scholarships.
Lance has helped me achieve things athletically I never thought would happen i.e., competing overseas, placing on the podium at a national level.
He’s slowly started to incorporate a bit of biking into my training so that helps ease the workload.
What’s the best part about athletics?
Obviously, as much as people look at it as an individual sport the people you meet doing athletics, not just from down here in Southland but the people you grow up competing with through bigger events like South Islands secondary schools or at national secondary school events.
I’ve got a few friends overseas on scholarship currently crushing it which is awesome to see. The pursuit of excellence and achieving goals is what I reckon the best part about athletics is.