Jacko Gill - Olympian In The Making

New Zealand athlete Jacko Gill has made another enormous stride in his burgeoning shot put career by smashing the world under-18 record.

Competing at the national secondary school championships in Hastings, Gill threw the shot 23.86m, eclipsing the previous mark by 68cm.

The relatively-lightly built Gill was quick to credit coach Didier Poppe for the achievement and restated his desire to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics, when he would be just 18.

"If I want it enough, I can do anything. I really do want it so I think anything's possible," he told One News.

"I'm going to try to get to London and hopefully medal or get in the top eight there."

The Takapuna Grammar student made international headlines this year when he became the youngest ever male junior world champion, with victory at Moncton, Canada courtesy of a 22.53m throw. The previous youngest was Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt.

Poppe was stunned by Gill's achievement this weekend.

"We have never seen the like. Nobody in the world has ever seen something like that and everybody's starting to look at Jacko like he's coming from another planet," he said.

Source: Stuff.co.nz (NZPA) 12 December 2010

World junior shot put champion Jacko Gill eclipsed the world record for a 17 year old with the 5kg shot put at the New Zealand Secondary Schools athletic championships in Hastings on Saturday.

The 15 year old sent the shot out to 23.86m to add 63 centimetres to the previous best by for 17 year old set by Krzysztof Brzozowski of Poland, in beating
Gill at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in August.

Gill, competing for Takapuna Grammar School, now holds the world record in both the 5kg and 6kg shot for every age from 14 to 17.

Gill said that he knew the record was there after throwing 22 metres consistently in training.

“There is still a lot more left,” he said.

Source: Athletics New Zealand Press Release 13 December 2010







Photos show Jacko Gill 9 months ago in typical record breaking form at the North Island Secondary Schools Track & Field Champs demolishing the previous Intermendiate Boys Shotput record of 17.71 metres with a final throw of 20.85 metres.

2010 Gold Programme 10k Track Race Newtown Park Sat 4 Dec

The weather conditions for this race were ideal for spectators and the Rees Buck support crew. For the athletes though it was probably a bit hot to be running 25 laps around a 400m track. I guess it would have been about 23 degrees give or take a bit. Six started the race but only five finished.

A crude commentary goes something like this. After a few laps top masters athlete, Grant Mclean and Julian Cook take the lead and have about a 150m - 200m break on Rees Buck, Tomas Bridgman and Joel Wyatt for the early stages of the race. Rees decides to catch up to Grant and Julian who have been sharing the lead. This goal eventually achieved, Rees then pulls away from Grant with Julian sitting third. Rees wins, crossing the line in 33.19.8 followed by Grant and then Julian. Tomas comes in fourth having been left to his own devices after being abandoned earlier by Rees and then subsequently by Joel (who pulled out). Meanwhile pushing the race leaders from the back of the field was Peter Wrigley our Chief Walk Judge training up for London 2012. Overall a good honest race with too few competitors. Well done to everyone who took part.

The final results were:

Rees Buck Wellington Scottish Athletics Club 33:19.8
Grant McLean Wellington Scottish Athletics Club 33:26.2
Julian Cook Wellington Scottish Athletics Club 33:42.7
Tomas Bridgman Wellington Scottish Athletics Club 34:35.3
Peter Wrigley Wellington Scottish Athletics Club 44:16.0
Joel Wyatt Hutt Valley Athletic Club DNF

2010 Central Regional Team Competition Round 3 Newtown Park Wellington Sat 27 Nov

Billy Crayford (Wellington Harriers) was in a class of his own at Newtown Park on Saturday clearing 2.14m in the high jump at the Regional Teams meeting. Based on information posted on NZRun those athletes who have cleared seven feet in the high jump (2.14m equals 7ft ¼ in.) are:



2.30 Glen Howard 2000
2.24 Roger Te Puni 1990
2.16 Kirk McNeely 1986
2.15 Terry Lomax 1981
2.15 Jeffrey Brown 1988
2.14 Chris Trabing 1983
2.14 Keith Olds 1989
2.14 Billy Crayford 2010

Others who have gone close are:

2.13 Steven Hollings 1988
2.12 Grant Landery 1980
2.12 Bill Boyd 1984
2.12 Kris de Jong 1985
2.12 Ray Featherstone 1991
2.10 Lindsay Guthrie 1977
2.10 Mark Woolley 1983
2.10 Geoff Beckett 1991
2.10 Dwain Geddes 1994
2.10 Grant Knaggs 2004
2.08 Dave McDonald 1981
2.08 Peter Ranginui 1989
2.08 Ben Giles 2005

Also at the Regional Teams meeting 17 year old Brad Mathas (Wanganui) ran 800m in an outstanding 1m 51.25s. He set a new record by repeating this time at the NZ Secondary Schools Track & Field Champs held recently in Hastings.

2010 College League Day 3 Newtown Park Sat 23 Oct

Florence Reynolds, Wellington Girls College easily clears the water jump in the 1500m steeplechase event. Florence will be competing in this event at the 2010 NZ Secondary Schools track & field champs to be held in early December.

Results are here

2010 College League Day 2 Newtown Park Sat 16 Oct

The start of the 2000m race, which unfolded as a battle to the finish between Jack Oliver and Jonathon Justice.

Results are here

2010 College League Day 1 Newtown Park Sat 9 Oct

After successfully clearing 1.85m, Scott Thomson (Mana) has no luck at the 1.9m height. Full results are here

2010 Bays Relay Wellington

The Bays Relay is a very short 5 lap, 22.1KM road relay which as the title suggests is run around some of Wellington's scenic coast. This year the fastest team cut out the distance in around 67 minutes and 42 seconds which may be a record. The worst thing about relays is waiting nervously for your team mate to arrive for the changeover. The best bit is the finish.