Eugene's Corner

We are rebuilding. The loss this year of our senior girls to university and the like meant we would not be a competitive threat to other schools in the sprints, long & triple jump and 4 x 100 relay in particular. The 4 x 100 Girls relay is an event we had great success with over the years. This year's athletes numbered 10 of which 5 were 'newbies'. It was always going to be tough. But I was hopeful of us giving a good account of ourselves. For example, young Raenin Pihema is Lytton's intermediate Boys High Jump champion with a jump of 1.80m. However after running sprints then backing up in the high jump, went out with a best of 1.50m. The winning jump on the day was 1.75m to Hastings Boys High School. Merlin Parsons out did himself in the 400m, although not placed, he was only 4 seconds off the Schools 400m record. Kyle McVey ran a staggering 2.26 in the Intermediate Boys 800m. The Lytton record in that event is 2:22.

Rubi Perano holds the Lytton High Intermediate Girls long jump record with 4.79m. She wasn't placed at this meet, but just to let you know the winning jump was 4:72m. Just to share with you a true story. The 1997 Lytton Senior Boys 4 x 100 relay team have held the ECNI record with a time of 43.3. Can the present group emulate the feat? Well, we had Cole Bava starting, passing the baton onto Merlin Parsons, then onto Tasman Gurau still only a junior, with Luke Edwards our finisher. What a buzz, The Napier Boys in the lane next to us were quick with blistering speed, I mean really quick. They went on to win, I reckon we were caught up in their draught which helped a wee bit. We were not placed. But I said to the team afterwards, not knowing the times that... they ought to be proud because they were in a race where the 4 x 100 Senior Boys relay record held by Lytton since 1997 may have been broken and that they wold be a part of history to come. Napier did it in 43:99. - Eugene Paea, 2019