A team of 40 talented athletes will soon travel to Timaru to compete at the New Zealand Secondary School Championships.
Leaving 5 December, our exceptional team will compete across a variety of athletic and track and field events over the weekend under the leadership of captains Milla Taylor, Henry Smith, Kieran Lawson and Letizia Hay.
The great thing about athletics is that it offers something for everyone. From the explosive speed of sprints to the strength needed for running and jumping, to the coordination and precision required for hurdling, steeplechase and relays. The sport also demands endurance for distance events, testing the limits of aerobic capacity.
Beyond the thrill of competition, the core skills of run, jump and throw form the foundation of most sports, helping athletes build transferable skills that will serve them well across various codes in the future.
Team highlights
- The Senior Girls’ relay team includes world-class U20 athletes Madeleine Waddell and Boh Ritchie, alongside premier hockey player Milla Taylor and world U20 track cycling silver medalist Jodie.
- The Senior Boys’ relay team is led by cricketer Flynn, alongside speedsters Alapati Tusa Soagia, Cruz Marra, Izzy Kamana, Henry Smith, Kieran Lawson and James Lowther. The rugby players in this team will find their sprints and throwing techniques useful on the field next winter.
- Many of our Year 9 cross-country medalists will reunite for various individual track events and the 3km road race as their team event. Chelsy Hurt, one of the standout Year 9 athletes says, “training and racing with your friends and peer group made it all the more fun, I can’t wait.”
- Julian Syben, Zara Herring, Sofia Moran, Jemma Burke, Lloyd Crerar, Casey Shaw-Stranks, Toby Lane and Finn Rolley have been making huge progress with their hurdling and steeplechase events and will compete in these more technical events.
- Our throws squad have two new additions in Year 9 students Faith Shortt and Zoe Hannah who will be stepping into the throwing circles and runways across discus, shot, hammer and javelin in their first major championship.
Looking across the wider school, we are thrilled to have such an amazing range of students involved in our athletics team, including football, hockey, rugby, netball and lacrosse players, to cyclists, dancers and rowers. This diverse mix of talent brings a unique energy and strength to the team, ensuring that everyone has the chance to shine no matter their background or sporting expertise.
Insights from our 2025 Head Students
Our 2025 Head Students Madeleine Waddell and Alapati Tusa Soagia, both key members of our athletics team, recently presented to the junior assembly and shared insights from their own sporting journeys. Their words have inspired our athletes, and we are confident that their messages of perseverance, teamwork and dedication will stay with the team as they head to Timaru to compete.
Here’s what Alapati Tusa Soagiahad to say: “I have learned to develop my sports skills, my resilient mindset and my determined spirit. Being part of and leading teams have helped me to develop and execute key skill. There are three key messages I apply to any aspect of my life no matter where I am on my journey.
- PASSION. Passion is about motivation and drive. For me, I have learnt that my passion is connected to my self-motivation. I know that I have a village of people in my journey that support me to fulfil my goals and dreams. Find what it is you love, and make sure that the dream you chase is one you are passionate about.
- FOCUS: Focus is what helps me to chase my dreams, and I’ve learnt that I need to be consistent and work hard. There will always be experiences that will challenge your mindset and heart but staying focused and committed is important.
- IDENTITY: Know who you are, and the many facets to what makes you your whole person.
"Make sure that you find ways to live a balanced life. For me, I understand that my sports are the dreams that I am chasing. But I am also a student athlete, so doing well in school is important to me. I am the eldest in my family so taking care of my parents and my sisters is the most important role in my life, and finally, I am a son of God, it is my faith that grounds me.”
Madeleine Waddell, who has been on a journey of self-discovery through her sports, shared: “It is so important especially at our developing age and stage to involve ourselves in a wide number of sports, because they each allow you development in a specific area, whether it be speed, coordination, endurance, strength. As well as this, the values you develop in sports run right throughout life and come into play when you’re at your lowest moments. "Success develops over years, and it is not necessarily pinned to any title, but rather it shown through the values that are developed and presented to you along the way. "It is the support around me, and the belief from others encouraging me to trust the process and envision a bigger picture. It is who you choose to surround yourself with in life which will dictate how you get through it. It’s important to recognise those people who uplift you.”
The St. Peter’s Athletics Team is focused on both performance and sportsmanship. Competing with integrity and supporting one another can make the experience even more meaningful, regardless of the outcome. Timaru sounds like a great opportunity for the team to showcase their hard work and spirit. Event information and live streaming will be available in the week leading up to the event here.