Te Puke Intermediate Cleans up BOP/PB Athletics
Te Puke Intermediate Athletics team had an incredibly successful day at the Bay of Plenty/ Poverty Bay Athletics Championship held at Tauranga Domain last Friday.
Te Puke Intermediate’s Eric Pulman had a titanic battle with Kyle Hamilton from Tauranga in the Year 7 boy’s discus. Both boys shared the lead throughout the event making the other come up with better throws. After Hamilton’s third and longest throw of 25.95m he must have thought he had it. However, Eric stepped into the circle for his final throw knowing he had to throw a personal best to give himself a chance. The crowd knew it as soon as they saw the discus leave Eric’s hand. Eric threw a staggering 27.86m – not only did he beat Tauranga’s throw he threw a personal best and set a new record at the BOP/PB Athletics Championship. Congratulations Eric.
Te Puke Intermediate’s Cole Forbes won the Year 7 boy’s 800m in a time of 2.29.60. Cole ran in the front bunch until he had 200m to go where he broke away from the other two runners. Striding out around the bend before the home straight the crowd looked on wondering if he had gone too early. Once in front Te Puke Intermediate’s Year 7 runner showed his determination and maintained his focus to take out a great 800m victory. Congratulations Cole.
Prior to his 800m race Cole had ran a ‘gutsy’ 1500m and finished 2nd. Running in the front pack, with 300m to go Cole increased the intensity but Bryn Fredheim from Tauranga had too much strength and went onto win this race. Te Puke Intermediate’s Daniel Courtis ran a solid 1500m to finish 5th Year 7 boy.
Having won the 800m and finishing 2nd in the 1500m Cole finished 3rd overall in the Year 7 boy’s BOP/PB Athletics Championship. Congratulations Cole.
In the Year 7 boy’s Te Rangitaunaha Whareaorere comfortably won his 100m heat and easily qualified for the final. Harry Hillier finished 2nd in his 100m heat and also qualified for the final. To have both Te Puke Intermediate Year 7 sprinters in the final was a fantastic achievement. Harry had just beaten Te Rangi in the school athletics day so both sprinters were intrinsically motivated to beat one another. In the final both Te Puke Intermediate sprinters ran brilliantly and Te Rangi finished 2nd in a time of 13.59s and Harry 3rd in 13.65s.
Te Rangi had only just started his successful day. He later finished 3rd in the Year 7 boy’s 200m final with a time of 28.59s and he finished 2nd in shot put. Te Rangi finished 4th overall with seven championship points at the BOP/PB Athletics. Congratulations Te Rangi.
Another highlight of the day was watching Te Puke Intermediate’s Year 7 relay team finishing 2nd. Congratulations Cole Forbes, Lauren Walker, Unique Clarke and Harry Hillier on your superb performance.
Te Puke Intermediate continued to excel when Poto Taumata threw 9.04m to finish 3rd in the Year 8 girl’s shot put and Eric Pulman finished 3rd in the Year 7 boy’s shot put.
Other notable track performances from Te Puke Intermediate were Kiripa Clarke finishing the Year 8 boy’s 200m final in 4th place, Nikki Thwaites finishing the Year 8 girl’s 800m in 4th place and Josh Buckton finishing the Year 8 boys 800m in 4th place.
Te Puke Intermediate had an incredibly successful day at the BOP/PB Athletics Championships and the team would like to thank the organisers for this event.
Year 7 boys Cole, Eric and Te Rangi stole the show at BOP/PB Athletics.