The Star: February 15, 2024

The Star Thursday February 15 2024
20
SPORT
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Boys’ High pair knock over senior rivals
• By Sam Coughlan
TWO CHRISTCHURCH Boys’
High students have blown away
their senior competition at
the Canterbury track and field
athletics championships.
Shot putter James Moore and
discus thrower Finn McLeod,
both 17, won their respective
events competing against some
men who were far older.
Moore threw 14.59m in the
shot put – more than a metre
clear of second-placed Max Abbot
– and his worst throw was
better than Abbot’s best.
McLeod took out the discus
with a best effort of 47.07m from
his second attempt.
Boys’ High head of athletics
Mike Drury said the achievement
is a special moment for the
pair.
“I think it’s really significant.
I’m certainly not aware of young
men over the years having success
in these events going up age
groups.”
Drury said the pair had only
decided last week to compete in
the senior competition.
“Even though they’re only 17,
they both thought they’d have
a go at the senior shot put and
discus titles.
“And tied in with that, it
means that you’re throwing
CHAMPIONS: Finn McLeod (left) and James Moore
representing New Zealand secondary schools at the
Capital Classic in Wellington. PHOTOS: MIKE DRURY
a much heavier implement as
well.”
McLeod only had his first ever
throw with the 2kg senior discus,
up from 1.75kg for age-group
competitions, three days before
the event.
“Finn’s coach said to him:
‘Okay, why don’t you have a go
at throwing the 2kg discus in
the Canterbury champs this
weekend’.
“So he got it out, had two
throws, and that was his preparation
for that event.”
The pair have signed up to
compete in the International
Track Meet next Saturday – the
biggest event on the athletics
calendar in the South Island,
featuring a number of overseas
representatives.
Drury hopes the boys make
the cut for the prestigious competition.
“I read the other day that
WIND-UP: McLeod begins
his action to throw the
discus.
there’s athletes from 20 different
countries competing, and a total
of 80 international athletes that
are going to be competing on
that day,” he said.
“So it’s a really cool event, and
the quality of competition will be
unreal.
“At this stage, both boys are
hoping that they will make the
fields for those, but it will come
down to how many international
athletes are coming over and
happen to be in their events.”
McLeod could have the chance
to compete against 2022 Commonwealth
Games medallists
Matt Denny (Australia) and
Lawrence Okoye (Great Britain)
in the discus.
Moore will face off with his
coach Nick Palmer, ranked
second in the country, and fourtime
Canadian champion Mark
Bujnowski.
POWER: Moore loads up to
throw the shot put during
an event at Ngā Puna Wai.
If they qualify, Drury thinks
they’ll be competitive.
“Finn is actually ranked fourth
in New Zealand right now for
discus, and James is fifth in shot
put.
“So that puts it into perspective
about how well they are actually
achieving.”
But it’s not just athletics
where the pair put in the hard
yards.
“These two guys, they’re
involved in a lot of stuff – both of
them are still prefects this year,”
Drury said.
“They’re also both in the 1st
XV this year, our head coach has
been really obliging in terms of
encouraging them to carry on
with their athletics.
“Everyone at the school is
immensely proud of them.”
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