Southland Athletes Aim For Medals At Nationals

• Southland athletes prepare to compete at the New Zealand track and field championships.
• James McLeay and Ollie Davis target medals in middle distance and long jump.
• Junior athletes, including Abby O’Boyle, also hope to make an impact.

Southland’s top track and field athletes are gearing up for the New Zealand championships in Dunedin next week, with several contenders eyeing podium finishes.

With nearly 30 Southland athletes competing at the March 6-9 event, the Caledonian Ground will feel familiar, having recently hosted the Otago-Southland championships. Some competitors will look to gain experience, while others have their sights set on medals.

Among the strongest medal hopes is middle-distance runner James McLeay. The United States-bound athlete recently defended his national mile title at the International Track Meet, a welcome result after battling illness over the summer. McLeay will compete in both the under-20 and senior 1500m events.

Fellow ILT Academy Southland athlete Ollie Davis is aiming for a strong performance in the under-20 and senior men’s long jump. A leap beyond 7m could see him claim a medal in the age group category.

Connor Gilliland has stepped up to the under-20 level after Christmas and will compete in the triple jump, 110m hurdles, and long jump. Meanwhile, Carlie Scherp will take on the under-20 discus and shot put despite dealing with an ongoing ankle injury.

Hector O’Rourke has already claimed podium finishes in the Classics series over the summer and is expected to be competitive in the under-20 discus.

Among the younger Southland athletes, several are hoping to perform well on the national stage. Abby O’Boyle, 15, will compete in the under-18 800m, 1500m, 2km steeplechase, and high jump. Despite being one of the youngest in her division, she is considered a strong medal contender.

Charlotte Hawkes will gain valuable experience at nationals and has been challenging O’Boyle in the steeplechase locally.

Gore’s Millie McFadzien is another name to watch. Having moved up from the under-16 to the under-18 division, she is favoured in both the steeplechase and 3km.

In the under-16 category, Gore’s Max McGregor will compete in the 800m and 1500m, forming part of a competitive trio alongside Invercargill’s Hunter Flowers and Queenstown’s James Weber.

Queenstown’s Siena Mackley, fresh off a third-place finish in the under-20 3km at the national championships, will take on the 1500m and 5km events.

With a mix of seasoned athletes and emerging talent, Southland’s representatives will be looking to make their mark at the national championships.