We will hear more of names such as Nikita Wain, Karsen Vesty, Le'Sharn Anderson, Sam Elliott, Oliver Marshall and Yuki Namerikawa in the near future.
These were the winners at the East Coast secondary schools road race championships at Frimley Park in Hastings last week and they headed fields with real depth in quality this year.
Wain's run in the year nine girls 3km race was outstanding, winning by 47 seconds in the smart time of 11 minutes neat. This run surprised no one who saw her run for sixth place at the national schools cross country at Taupo's Spa Park in June.
Havelock North High's Karsen Vesty won the year nine boys 3km race, leading throughout and holding off Taikura Rudolf Steiner's Finn Barker by four seconds in 10m 33s. Vesty was unfortunate to feel unwell and not be able to do himself justice at the East Coast cross country in Gisborne in June, missing selection in the provincial team for the national cross country relay.
Like Taradale High's Wain, Vesty, is also a promising orienteer, not to mention cyclist and triathlete. In spite of badly breaking his wrist in a cycling smash he finished runner-up in the national orienteering championships in July, running with his arm in a cast, just two weeks later. That determination was very much on show in Thursday's road race.