Mikael Starzynski. PHOTO/FILE
ATHLETICS
JAKE BELESKI
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Wairarapa College athlete Mikael Starzynski’s shot at redemption has arrived.
The Waicol head boy and 400m star was disappointed after narrowly missing out on this year’s Youth Olympic Games in Argentina to an Australian runner.
After that disappointment, Starzynski was named in the New Zealand track and field squad to attend the Australian All Schools Championships in Cairns, where he was to compete yesterday, and said at the time that he was looking forward to having another crack at his Australian rival.
“It wasn’t really something I was working towards, but I put my name down for it and got selected so I was very pleased,” he said.
“Hopefully I can race him in Cairns and give him a run for his money – I’m looking forward to racing him so that will be something to look forward to over there.”
Starzynski is targeting a top-three finish in Cairns, as well as a time under 49 seconds.
The event kicked off yesterday and runs through to tomorrow, and Starzynski did not have to wait long to get on the track.
He was one of 19 competitors set to contest the under-18 boys’ 400m preliminary races yesterday, at 7.25pm [NZT].
