Sixteen-year-old Phoebe Laker continued her run of victories at the Athletics New Zealand Track and Field Championships last weekend.

Phoebe finished 15 metres or more ahead of the rest of the field in the Women’s Under 18 400m, securing her a ‘three-peat’ of national titles, Aspiring Athletes Club (AAC) coach Michael Beable said.

The achievement is “rare for someone so young,” Michael said. “What’s more, she has another year in the same U18 grade.”

The young athlete-to-watch has been on a winning streak: she also took first place in the NZ Secondary Schools U16 Girls race in December as well as at the Women’s Open at the Lovelock (Timaru) and Capital Classic (Wellington) meetings in January.

Phoebe was one of a handful of AAC athletes who competed in last weekend’s championships, which were held at Dunedin’s Caledonian Ground.

Teammate Niamh Townsend (19), in her first year in the senior women’s grade, competed in the Women’s 4x100m relay, helping the Otago team to achieve second place; she also earned tenth overall in the hotly contested Women’s Open 100m; and ran a PB in the Women’s 200m with a time of 26.13s, placing ninth.

AAC sprinter Hayato Yoneto began his weekend by achieving a gold medal as part of the Otago relay team in the Men’s 4X100m; he followed this up with a bronze medal in the Senior Men’s 100m with a time of 10.51s the following day.

Hayato Yoneto - pictured competing in the heats - went on to win a bronze medal in the Senior Men’s 100m with a time of 10.51s.

Year 13 Te Kura O Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) student Ryan Enoka placed fourth in the Men’s U20 Hammer Throw, achieving both a PB of 39.82m and a club record.

Former MAC student Ryan Young pushed through a “problematic ankle” to claim the Senior Men’s Triple Jump bronze medal with a 14.17m distance.

It was a “very satisfying weekend” for coach Michael.

In addition to the local AAC sprinters and jumpers who he coaches doing well on the national stage, Michael got to witness Dunedin athlete Shay Veitch - who he has coached for more than four years - win three Senior Men’s gold medals. 

PHOTOS: Supplied