Mikael Starzynski won a gold and silver at the National Track and Field Championships. PHOTO/FILE
ATHLETICS
CHRIS COGDALE
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Wairarapa athletes came home with eight medals, including two golds, from the National Track and Field Championships held in Christchurch over the weekend.
Former Wairarapa College student Mikael Starzynski, now based in Auckland but racing for Wellington, won gold and silver medals.
The 18-year-old’s most impressive effort came in the senior men’s 800m in which he ran second in a time of one minute 51.55 seconds, less than a second behind the winner Michael Dawson from Auckland.
Starzynski and another Wairarapa athlete Ethan Butcher were part of the Wellington team which won the 4 x 400m relay. Butcher ran the third leg, Starzynski the anchor leg.
Rathkeale College student Joseph Quinn dominated the under-18 men’s hammer, winning the gold medal with a best throw of 53.13m, nearly 2m ahead of Liam Ngchok-Wulf of Auckland.
He then backed up with a fourth place in the under-20 men’s hammer.
Jack Lewington won bronze medals and did personal bests in the para 100m and para long jump, as well as setting a PB in the para 200m.
Josh Taylor also had success in para events, winning a silver medal in the senior men’s long jump and placing fourth in the 400m.
Bronze medals were also won by Kosta Mills in the under-18 men’s 800m in 1:57.94, and Liam Montgomery and Matthew Rodger, who were part of the Wellington 4 x 100m senior men’s relay.
