Q&A: Southland’s youngest national athletics champion
Charlotte Hawkes' South Island Secondary School Championships time places her 8th on the U18 national rankings - and she is just 13 years old.
Sign up to get each Southland Tribune edition sent to your email inbox.
Is 13 too young to predict a sporting pathway to future ability? Most coaches think so.
But one 13-year-old has other ideas. Charlotte Hawkes at 13 became Southland’s youngest national athletic champion when she won the U16 steeplechase at the national champs last March, then followed it up with an U16 800m silver (in a photo finish with 2nd and 3rd given the same time) and a devastating final lap to bring the team U18 Southland team home for silver.
A month later, she improved her steeplechase and 800 times to win both (and the 1500) at the South Island Secondary School Championships.
Her South Island Secondary School Championships time places her 8th on the U18 national rankings, with all but one ahead of her 16 and 17 years old. (Training mate Abby O’Boyle tops the U18 ranking rankings with Southlander Millie McFadzien in second. There is no U16 ranking.)
Colgate medals were also part of her season.
She continued her track prowess into winter cross-country, winning the Southland Secondary Schools Year 9 3000m, taking almost a minute off the record.
OK, results at 13 don’t necessarily mean success as a senior, but the young St Pauls club member says, perhaps it can.
Olympics 2032 and 2036 are on the pathway she has mapped out for herself.
What does she see ahead? We asked her.
What got you started?: Dad took me along to the Colgate Games when they were in Invercargill to watch and I was amazed at how big it was (I was only 6).
How long have you been doing athletics?: Since I was 6 years old.
What other sports and interest, and how do they affect your running (or vice versa)?: Netball, Rugby, Water-skiing, Hunting and Fishing. Netball helps with overall fitness and elevation, and my water-skiing helps with strength. Hunting is great as it gets me outdoors with my dad, dog – Tess and is also great for strength and fitness. I decided to give up rugby for now as it clashes with athletics.
What have been your best moments in athletics? Winning a National Championship in the steeplechase.
What are you hopes athletically? Big goal would be to make it to the Olympics. But just any chance to represent New Zealand would be awesome.
What’s your favourite event and training sessions? Steeplechase and 1500m. My favourite training session would be the sausage session; steady for 2mins, jog for 1min and continue for 40mins.
Tell us about your coach and coaching or biggest influence: My coach is Lance Smith and I joined his squad in October last year. Lance is really supportive of me and has set me up with a great training programme. He adapts your training to your other sports and school commitments, which is great to be flexible.
How has your family helped your athletics journey? Mum, Dad and my sister support me, take me to all the events and encourage me to do my best. If I’ve had an injury they’ve got it sorted for me. I’ve got great extended family and friends who always support me to.
What’s next for you in athletics – your aims for the rest of and next season? I’ve got the NZ Cross Country Champs next month in Christchurch and am hoping to do well in that. For the track & field season, I want to keep improving my times and having fun.
What is the best part of athletics? The people, although it’s individual I’m part of a great training group that encourages each other and pushes each other to do better. I’ve made some great friends both in Invercargill and throughout New Zealand through athletics.
Great article, go Charlotte ❤️❤️