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Whangaparāoa College student Sacha Fu-Oughton of Gulf Harbour is making a name for herself in athletics, securing Gold in the hammer throw at the New Zealand Track and Field Nationals held in Dunedin earlier this month.
Representing Athletics Auckland, the 13-year-old won the U16 division with an impressive throw of 48.38 metres, setting national and Auckland records for the category. This achievement makes her eligible to compete at the 2026 Oceania Championships.
Remarkably, this is Sacha’s first year competing in hammer throw, having switched from discus just six months ago. For the past few months, she has been training under Didier Poppe, the former coach of Olympic champion Dame Valerie Adams.
Her record-breaking throw now places her at the top of the national rankings, and she is determined to become a professional athlete. Balancing school and sport, Sacha trains three times a week with her coach, works out at the gym daily, and also plays volleyball and netball. She credits her training group at the AUT Millennium Centre for keeping her motivated as she prepares for the upcoming North Island Championships.
Looking ahead, Sacha has set her sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. To qualify, she will need to achieve a qualifying throw of 72 metres, a challenge she believes is within reach. “I’ve got three years to get there, and it’s definitely a possibility,” she says.
