Te Awamutu Courier - May 24th, 2011 - Te Awamutu Online

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TE AWAMUTU COURIER, TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2011 15
Phil Simms an athlete going places
High school student to represent NZ at Oceania championships
BY HAMISH FORAMAN
Te Awamutu athlete Phil Simms has
capped off a brilliant season by being selected
to represent New Zealand at the under 20
Oceania Regional Athletics Championships.
The 17-year-old Hamilton Boys High
School student has been chosen to compete in
the 400 metre hurdles, long jump and relay at
the June 21-24 championships in Samoa.
Simms’ selection is another step in the
right direction towards his goal of qualifying
for next year’s World Junior Athletics Championships
in Barcelona.
His success this season began back in
December at the New Zealand Secondary
School Championships in Hastings, where he
finished third in the open boys 300 metre
hurdles.
From then on Simms punched above his
weight over the summer, being the youngest
in the Men’s under 19 years category at
various athletic meets.
He attended three of the four Asics Grand
Prix meets, a key event in the New Zealand
athletics calendar, and placed second overall
in the 400 metre hurdles.
The winner of the grand-prix was a full
three years older than him.
Around the same time as these meets,
Simms took part in the M19 decathlon at the
National Multi Event Championships in
Tauranga.
Despite having never pole vaulted before
he finished a credible third, winning four of
NEIL GOODRICK
Mob (027) 292 9040
ngoodrick@wilksbrooke.co.nz
the 10 decathlon events including the long
jump, 400 metres, 1500 metres and 110 metre
hurdles.
At the New Zealand club nationals held in
Dunedin in late March, Simms placed fourth
in the 110 metre hurdles, slashing 0.75
seconds off his personal best time. In his
favoured event, the 400 metre hurdles, he
brought home the silver medal with another
great personal best time of 54.28, taking 0.6
seconds off his previous best.
He was also in both Waikato relay teams
that won silver and bronze medals, which
included a new Waikato record in the 4x100
relay.
Back at school level Simms has been
dominant. At the Waikato Secondary School
Championships he won four medals — two
golds in the 300 metre hurdles and long jump,
and two silvers in the 100 metres and 400
metres. His winning long jump was another
record — a leap of 6.72 metres.
In the North Island Secondary School
Championships Simms again won gold
medals in the 300 metres hurdles and long
jump, with another personal best jump.
He very nearly also took out the 400
metres. A photo finish camera took 15
minutes to work out the winner and
unfortunately he missed out on first place by
0.003 seconds, after running a personal best
time of 49.48.
Simms expressed appreciation for the
ongoing support of his sponsor Kukri and
coach Criss Strange.
Pirongia newcomer to fore in women’s tourney
Jill Morgan took out the Sharon de
Thierry Tournament at Pirongia Women’s
Golf Club with 73 off-the-stick. The twohandicapper
recently joined the host club.
A large field was entered with 13 clubs
represented. Scoring in all three divisions
was of a high standard. Gross winner in
division one was Pirongia’s Bev Parsons with
84, one stroke ahead of Helen Green of
Hamilton. Gay Pickett (WT) and Wendy
Thompson (Wai) had best nett scores with 72.
Kitty Kanters of Ngahinapouri was div-
ision two gross winner carding 87, followed
by Lochiel’s Ali Patterson with 92. Nett
winner and runner up were Stewart
Alexander’s Carol Formosa and Margaret
Bouma, with 72 and 74 respectively.
Division three gross winner was Patty
Macintyre (Pir) who scored 99 with Shirley
Grey (Pir), runner up with 105. Nett winner
was Inez Green from Lochiel with 72, four
strokes ahead of Chris Ward (Pir). Nine hole
winners were host club players Judy Dunn
with 52 and Norma Graham with 39 nett.
TC240511SP15
PHIL SIMMS shows the style that has seen him excel in hurdles and other athletics roles
this season.
MARK PENNY
(0274) 310 880
mpenny@wilksbrooke.co.nz