Where Are They Now?

Where are they now? Some of you will be aware that I have a deep interest (some would say an “obsession”!) in the topic of junior to senior transition. In a paper I authored in 2010 I stated “The transition time (from elite junior to becoming a successful senior) ranged from one year to 11 years with a mean of 4.1 SD ±2.8 years for the men. The women had a longer transition time with a range of one to 13 years (mean 7.8 ±3.7 years). The analysis (of the data) also shows that a large majority of the junior medallists and junior finalists stayed at or near the top of their event for a further 10 to 15 years”… “There is a feeling that in some of the technical disciplines (e.g. throwing events and jumping events), that the transition time from elite junior to elite senior athlete is longer but our analysis does not support this premise, as we did not find a particular bias towards any event” (Hollings & Hume, 2010). I thought it would be interesting to look at the progress/transition of those New Zealand junior athletes who comped at the World Junior (now U20) Championships in 2010, 2012, and 2014, and see where they are at eight, six and four years later respectively. First, I give a summary and then the details of each athlete’s transition and progress. Reference: Hollings, S. C., & Hume, P. A. (2010). Is success at the World Junior Athletics Championships a prerequisite for success at World Senior Championships or Olympic Games? – Prospective and retrospective analyses. New Studies in Athletics, 25(2), 65-77. Coding: World Junior Championships Senior NZL Representation Annual Progression *Denotes second appearance at a WJC OG/WC/WIC/CWG – Medal YEAR – BEST PERFORMANCE RED BOLD denotes medal won at WJC OG/WC/WIC - Finalist Red Italic denotes making a final at WJC OG/WC/WIC/CWG - Participation 2010 – Moncton, Canada New Zealand sent its largest ever team of 24 athletes (11 men and 13 women) to the 13th edition of the World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada. Jacko Gill became just the second New Zealand athlete, and the first male to win a Gold medal at a World Junior Championships. Aaron Pulford (10000m) was the only other male athlete to make a final. Five of the 13 women made the final of their event – Rebekha Greene (1500m), Hannah Newbould (3000m), Elizabeth Lamb (High Jump), Ayla Gill (Hammer Throw), and Siositina Hakeai (Discus Throw). New Zealand scored 16 points (its second highest ever after the 18 points scored by the team to Lisbon in 1994) and finished 22nd nation overall – its highest ever placing (at the time). NZL Senior Representation Annual Name Event WJC Result Current Status (CWG, OG, WC, Progression (Best performance) WIC) 2010 – 10.68 /21.51 Still competing. 2011 – 10.77 /21.80 Has improved in 2017 WC – 5h1 – 2012 – 10.36 /21.27 both the 100m & 10.31 2013 – 10.32 /20.81 200 since 2010. 2017 WC – 6h1 – Joseph Miller 200m 4th ht4 – 21.80 2014 – 10.39 /20.81 Transitioned to 20.97 2015 – 10.55 /21.26 compete at the 2018 CWG – 6sf3– 2016 – 10.33/20.77 senior level at the 21.01 2017 – 10.18/20.37 2017 WC and 2018 2018 – 10.38/20.60 CWG Still competing – 2010 – 47.00 although ran 2011 – 46.40 slower in 2014 & 2012 – 46.83 2015 than he did in 2013 – 46.64 2010 after Alex Jordan 400m 6th sf3 – 47.65 - 2014 – 47.83 improving to run 2015 – 47.44 his best time in 2016 - nt 2011. Did not 2017 - nt compete at 400m 2018 - nt in 2016, 2017. 2010 – 47.29 Still competing 2011 – 48.52 although fastest 2012 – 49.25 400m time was in 2013 – 49.25 2010. Scott Burch 400m 6th ht6 – 48.63 - 2014 – 48.04 2015 – 47.57 2016 – 48.21 2017 – nt 2018 – 49.63 2010 – 1:50.15 Did not compete Glen Ballam 800m 7th ht3 – 1:51.96 - 2011 – 1:50.15 after 2012. Ran his 2012 – 1:52.36 best time in 2011. 2010 – 29:14.23 Running only 5 2011 – 29:52.51 seconds faster 2012 - 29:26.66 after 4 years. Now 2013 – 29:06.74 running H-M (best Aaron Pulford 10000m 5th – 29:14.23 - 2014 – 29:09.97 time 1:05:35 – 2015 - 29:33.62 2017). 2016 – 30:09.02 2017 – 29:38.98 2014 CWG - 11th - 2010 – 18.57m Progressing well 18.05m 2011 – 20.38m with the 7.26kg 2015 WC - 8th - 2012 – 20.05m shot. Illness struck 20.11m 2013 – dnc in 2018, curtailing 2016 WIC - 9th - 2014 – 20.70m any competition in st Jacko Gill Shot Put 1 – 20.76m 19.93m 2015 – 20.75m 2018. 2016 OG– 9th – 2016 – 20.83m 20.50m 2017 – 21.01m 2017 WC– 9th – 20.82m 2014 CWG -2nd - 2010 – 17.57m Consistent year by 21.19m 2011 – 18.83m year improvement 2014 WIC - 3rd - 2012 – 19.33m resulting in 7 21.26m 2013 – 20.61m medals at senior Tom Walsh Shot Put 10th qB – 17.92m 2015 WC – 4th – 2014 – 21.26m world-level 21.58m 2015 – 21.62m competitions. 2016 WIC – 1st – 2016 – 22.21m 21.78m 2017 – 22.14m 2016 OG – 3rd – 2018 – 22.67m 21.36m 2017 WC – 1st – 22.03m 2018 WIC -1st – 22.31m 2018 CWG – 1st – 21.41m 2015 WC – 7h1 – 2010 – 52.10 Year by year 49.58 2011 – 50.62 improvement 2012 – 51.48 (except in 2012) to 2013 – 50.07 be running fastest 110m Hurdles, 5th ht7 – 14.28 Michael Cochrane 2014 – 49.72 time in 2015. 400m Hurdles 6th sf2 - 52.71 2015 - 49.58 2016 – 49.86 2017 – 50.57 2018 - dnc 2010 – 48.13 Running slower in 2011 – 47.47 2015 than he did in 2012 – 46.68 2010. Frazer Wickes 4 x 400m Relay Did not compete - 2013 – 48.02 2014 – 48.37 2015 - 48.78 2010 – 48.24 Gradual 2011 – 47.44 improvement to be 2012 – 47.16 running best time 2013 – 47.56 in 2014 Tama Toki 4 x 400m Relay 3rd ht1 – 3:10.83 - 2014 – 46.77 2015 – 46.80 2016 – 47.63 2017 - dnc 2010 – 48.51 2011 – 47.78 Matthew Robinson 4 x 400m Relay Did not compete - 2012 – 47.91 2013 – dnc 2010 – 54.57 Running similar Kristie Baillie 400m 8th ht2 – 59.98 - 2011 – 54.81 times in 2014 to 2012 – 53.19 those she ran in 2013 – 54.70 2010. Best time in 2014 – 54.69 2012. 2015 - 59.45 2016 – 58.61 2017 - nt 2018 – 59.04 2013 WC – 4h2 – 2010 – 2:03.87 Improved from 2:00.60 2011 – 2:05.00 2010 (except in 2014 CWG - 5th - 2012 – 2:00.67 2011) to run best 2:01.94 2013 – 2:00.63 time in 2015. 2015 WC – 4s2 – 2014 – 2:00.59 1:59.53 2015 – 1:59.06 Angie Smidt* (Petty) 800m 5th sf 3 – 2:05.51 2016 OG – 4h1 – 2016 – 2:00.62 2:02.40 2017 – 2:00.44 2017 WC – 4h3 – 2018 – 2:00.62 2:01.76 2018 CWG – 5h1 – 2:00.62 2010 – 2:07.01 Retired? Anna Roche 800m 7th sf1 – 2:07.01 - 2011 – 2:10.01 (Vehicle accident) 2012 - dnc 2010 – 4:18.90 Ran similar (year 2011 – 4:19.78 best) times from 2012 – 4:21.99 2010 to 2014, but 2013 – 4:18.15 has run slower Rebekah Greene 1500m 11th – 4:27.75 - 2014 – 4:17.36 since 2014. 2015 - 4:27.16 2016 – 4:22.09 2017 – 4:22.55 2010 – 9:15.68 Ran slower in 2011 – 9:53.89 3000m from 2010 2012 – 9:34.97 until 2012. 5th ht2 – 4:19.71 2013 – dnc Competed in H-M Hannah Newbould 1500m, 3000m - 8th – 9:15.68 and 3000mSt in 2013. Did not compete at all from 2014. Laura Nagel 3000m 16th – 9:25.91 - 2010 – 9:25.91 Ran 5000m & 2011 – 9:25.78 10km and H-M in 2012 – 9:24.30 2017. Best 5000m 2013 – 9:25.01 & 1000m times 2014 – 9:01.35(i) were in 2013. Best 2015 – 9:09.16 3000m time in 2016 – dnc 2014 (i) 2017 – 9:22.73 2010 – 10:35.19 Improved through 2011 – 10:14.17 to 2012 – dnc in 2012 – 10:13.12 steeplechase in 3000m 2013 – dnc 2013. In 2014 ran Caroline Mellsop 8th ht1 – 10:40.08 - Steeplechase 2014 – 10:43.41 slower than she did 2015 - dnc in 2010. Did not compete in 2015 onwards. 2010 – 1.85m Apart from a 1.90m 2011 – 1.86m performance in 2012 – 1.90m 2012 she is 2010 CWG – 6th – 2013 – 1.84m jumping the same Elizabeth Lamb High Jump 9th – 1.78m 1.78m 2014 – 1.85m height in 2015 as in 2015 – 1.85m 2010, then 2016 - 1.86m improved 2017 - 1.83m marginally in 2016 2010 – 1.82m A 3cm 2011 – 1.73m improvement in 6 2012 – 1.75m seasons to 2015, 2013 – 1.73m but jumped a lower Keeley O’Hagan High Jump 12th qB – 1.74m - 2014 – 1.80m height in 2017 & 2015 – 1.85m 2018 than in 2010. 2016 – dnc 2017 - 1.80m 2018 – 1.81m 2010 – 4.00m Improved yearly 2011 – 4.05m through to 2013, 2012 – 4.06m but 2014 saw a big Kerry Charlesworth Pole Vault NH - 2013 – 4.26m step back. Now 2014 – 3.85m retired 2015 - dnc 2010 – 57.81m Retired 2011 – 61.70m Ayla Gill Hammer Throw 6th – 57.28m - 2012 – 55.20m 2013 – dnc 2010 – 52.02m 2010 was her best 2011 – 51.53m year.

Load more