A trio of local athletes represent their country in disciplines that couldn’t be more different, but their collective commitment to training and hard graft is beyond dispute.

Students and staff of Cromwell College joined the three young athletes and their families this week in a special assembly to mark the significance of their achievements.  

Jono Hansen (year 7) gained fourth place at the Oceania bmx championships and third at the BMX national championships.  

While at the nationals, Jono trialled for the BMX mighty 11s, where he placed third. 

Jono is looking forward to June when he and his three teammates head over the Tasman to test their talent against the Australians in Sydney.

“We're there for 10 days with the team, and it's the third and fourth round of the National series at MacArthur BMX track,” he said.

“We're gonna be racing in a team, so four of us New Zealanders and four of Aussies in the same race. 

“The plan is to beat them,” he said.

Netballer Grace Tiko joins the school haka performed in honour of her and her two sporting colleagues

Shyla Mulholland (year 9) has trained and competed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for seven years. 

Shyla won a bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships in Los Angeles before the Covid-19 shutdown. 

Shyla has at one time or currently held every single regional title in New Zealand, along with both North and South Island titles and five National titles.

She has the most wins (64) by any female in NZ (including adults) in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and she is competing in her first-ever kickboxing fight this weekend in Timaru.

Shyla will compete at the 2023 World Champs in Texas this year in July, aiming for a gold medal.

“My original intention when I took up Jiu-Jitsu was for self-defence.

“Now I’m doing it to take it as far as I can push it, she said.”

Grace Tiko (year 11) started playing netball at primary school as an enthusiastic eight-year-old and immediately loved the game. 

Grace worked incredibly hard to have the opportunity to trial for the New Zealand Secondary Schools (NZSS) netball team.

“To be honest, I wasn't very confident I would get in the side because the girls I played with were so amazing,” she said. 

“Getting selected for the national team has opened my eyes to netball as a possible career path.

“It still feels like a bit of a dream.”

Tomorrow the Central App will look further at Grace Tiko’s talent on the netball court and her selection in the national secondary school side.   

PHOTOS: The Central App