Change at top for Warkworth athletics

Members of the Warkworth Athletics Club have waved goodbye to the summer season and to club president of six years, Brett Illingworth.

Brett will be replaced by Jared McGee.

“It’s been a well-supported season and the club’s glad to be back at Shoesmith Domain,” Brett says.

“They’ve done a good job with the domain renovation and the addition of two new shot put circles has been good for us.”

The club had 163 registered children this summer, who competed in either the six and under section or seven and over.

Brett says the biggest challenge the club faced was getting parents involved to help.

“When you see the smiles on the kids’ faces and the achievements, you realise why you do it.”

He also backs the decision this season to not be part of the Auckland Athletics Association, believing it has benefited the majority of club members.

“Those who want that higher level of competition usually move to a bigger club anyway.”

Luka Rissman gained the most points of any club member this season with 135, coming first in the 11-year-old boy’s group.

The top girls in each age group were Piper Strudwick, Breagh McGee, Dakota Corringham, Madison Priem, Lucee Illingworth and Bree Illingworth.

The top boys were Asher Moore, Murdoch Phillips, Matthew Hay, Rawiri Haua, Josh Clarkson and Jordon Thomas.

 

Meanwhile, Rodney College had six competitors claim first at the Northland Champs last month with Georgia Brierly, Luca Rudolph, Javarne Porter, Sapphire Norburn-Cormack, Jade Zaia and Harrison Warahi.

Georgia claimed three firsts in track events and Jade two in field events.

Alice Williams of Mahurangi College came first in the 200m and 300m junior girls races at the Auckland Athletics Champs also held last month.