Three young Mt Aspiring College (MAC) athletes excelled, each achieving new personal bests at the recent interprovincial championships in Palmerston North during Easter weekend. 

Selected to represent Otago in their respective age groups at the athletics meet, Amaya East (12), Chantel Thurston (13) and Jimmy Knight (12) each competed in four track and field events and claimed 10 personal bests between them.

Jimmy and Amaya had previously represented Otago in junior events but for Chantel the honour was a first.

“They were up against the best 12 and 13-year-olds in the country,” team manager Sue Richard said, referring to the more than 400 athletes who were selected to represent their provinces at the meet.

Amaya competed in the long jump, the shot put and the 400m (she ran 13th) achieving PBs in all but it was in the 800m, where she ran 8th, that she knocked a whopping three seconds off her personal best time. 

Running in Otago’s blue and gold (left), Jimmy Knight competes in the 100m.

Chantel also earned four personal bests; competing in sprints she achieved 14th in the 100m, 12th in the 200m, and a very credible seventh in the 400m; as well as in her long jump age group event.

“The girls were amongst only a handful of...athletes achieving PBs in all four events. A very high achievement at this level of competition,” Sue said. 

Jimmy jumped into fifth place in his age group long jump and ran fifth in the 100m - achieving PBs in both events. He also competed in shot put (13th) but a slight back injury sidelined him from high jump - one of his favorite events, she said. 

All three contributed strongly to Otago’s sixth placing out of the 12 participating provincial teams during the two day meet.

Aiming for a strong finish to their athletics season, Amaya and Chantel have headed north to Christchurch to compete in the girls U14 events at the South Island Secondary School championships this weekend, Sue said. 

Amaya will compete in her favoured 800m and Chantel in the 100m and 400m.

PHOTOS: Supplied