Youngster Qualifies for World Youth Athletic Championships

Another Throw for Gold Youngster Qualifies for World Youth Athletic Championships


Auckland, 05 November 2012: Talented Auckland schoolboy Sam Ulufonua has become the first New Zealander to qualify for the World Under-18 Youth Athletic Championships in Ukraine next July.

Still only 16, the Auckland Grammar student threw the 1.5kg discus well beyond the qualifying standard of 55 metres at Mt Smart last weekend, with a best effort of 56.13m. Ulufonua has quickly developed into the emerging star of the ‘Throw For Gold’ programme, established by the John Walker ‘Find Your Field of Dreams’ Foundation in partnership with Athletics Auckland and The Lion Foundation, to identify and develop future champions from South Auckland in discus, shot put and javelin.

He joins fellow ‘Throw For Gold’ star Siositina (Tina) Hakeai to reach world championship status. The Auckland Girls Grammar student, aged 18, finished 4th in the World Under-20 Junior Championships in Barcelona this year with a throw of 56.17m, which ranked her No.7 in the world.

Athletes have until April 2013 to qualify for next year’s World Junior Athletic Championships and ‘Throw For Gold’ head coach, Nigel Edwards says Ulufonua still has “considerable scope for further improvement and I’m confident he can bring back a medal.”

“Sam comes from a strong rugby background and only joined us two years ago,” he says.

“Last year he gave up the chance to play for the AGS 1st XV to concentrate on athletics and at the NZ Secondary Schools Athletic Championships last December won the junior boys shot put and discus double.

“Then earlier this year at the Auckland Zone Schools Championships he won the discus, smashing the previous record which had stood since 1992.

“Sam is a rare talent with so much potential which he is only just starting to produce. Like Tina there is no limit to what he can achieve. ”He also hopes to be selected for the Youth Olympics Festival at Sydney in January.”

Mr Edwards says Sam’s immediate goal is the 2012 National Secondary Schools Athletic Championships at Dunedin in December where ‘Throw For Gold’ expects to field a team of 14 athletes with Sam and Tina predicted to set new discus records. Last year at the nationals the ‘Throw For Gold’ team won four gold, seven silver and bronze medals.

Tina, who leaves school at the end of this year, has already been earmarked by Athletics New Zealand as one of their ‘Carded’ Athletes. Next year her key events are the NZ and Australian Senior National Championships, with the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Wales her big goal.

Mr Edwards says if Sam continues his development he could also be a contender for the Commonwealth Games, but the World Under-18 Championships remain his immediate target.

The John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable trust established four years ago to positively engage and encourage South Auckland youngsters to pursue an active and healthy pathway through a range of sports and active programmes. The Foundation works in a strategic partnership with Auckland Council.

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