Smith, Love replace star trio in GBHS record books
Chris Taewa
THREE stars of Gisborne Boys’ High’s illustrious rugby history had records struck from the books at the school athletics championships yesterday.
James Kerr, Hosea Gear and Charlie Ngatai were replaced by Tom Smith and Korey Love as three junior (under-14) records were broken in a championship described as the best in several years.
Tom Smith, fresh from winning medals at the Ocean Athletes national under-14 surf lifesaving championships, clocked 23.59 seconds in the 200 metres to break Kerr’s 20-year-old record of 24.47.
Smith also set a new time of 11.56 in the 100, surpassing Ngatai’s 11.71 set in 2004.
Love jumped 1.7 metres in the high jump, smashing Gear’s 1998 record of 1.64.
There were several other outstanding performances, said head of physical education Simon Murphy.
Toby Harris dominated the senior (16 years plus) championship, winning the 100m, 200, 400, long triple jump, high jump and javelin.
“I’ve never seen such a dominant performance,” said Murphy.
Tu Tawhai was the intermediate (14-15yrs) champion after victories in the 100, 200, 400 and long jump.
Baxter Mackey won the 400, 800 and 1500 in the junior championship which will be decided when the 3000m is held tomorrow.
Murphy said the day was “a real success . . . the best since I’ve been head of department (six-to-seven years)”.
He put it down to a more relaxed format, the cooler weather and a “cranking” PA system.
“The level of participation was great . . . championship events were of a real high standard across the board.”
As well as the three records, there were as many as six that came under threat, he said.