Good Sports: No PB but Amanda still nabs bronze medal

Amanda Still.Photo/Michael Cunningham

Amanda Still is an athlete to keep an eye on. The 15-year-old runner has just cemented her spot inside the top three for her age group in New Zealand at the national Secondary Schools' Track and Field Championships. Amanda nabbed bronze in 800m, which is a fiercely competitive race within New Zealand, to continue her progression as an athlete. Amanda found some time to catch up with the Northern Advocate after her success over the weekend.

What were your goals going into the competition? Were you surprised with the outcome?

Going into the junior girls 800m competition I had hoped to gain a personal best time and/or to place in the top three to receive a medal. I did not get a personal best (PB) time on the day, however, I did win the bronze medal which I was very happy about. My success in this competition has made me more determined to continue improving and achieve a personal best time at my next major competition in January. I knew that I had a good chance of doing well and winning the bronze medal was definitely a highlight. Prior to the competition I had been putting in many hours of training hoping that I would get a good result. When I finished the race I must admit I was a little disappointed that I didn't place higher, but when I saw the pain on other athletes' faces who did not place I realised that I have actually done well to come in the top three in NZ and I am proud of the outcome.

Tell me about your race, how did you feel it went? What were the tactics?

My race didn't exactly go as planned, but when is a race ever perfect? I wanted to be out front just behind the first couple of competitors. However, I found myself being cut off by an athlete beside me who decided to cross in front of me at the break line. This had never happened to me before and I was a bit confused as to what to do and found that I was forced to move into the pole line straight away which resulted in me being pushed away from the front. This meant I had to work harder to move up but that was okay.

I kept up with the front runners which led to me running a personal best time at the 600m mark. At this stage, the front runner had broken away from the group and I was now running for second or third. I tried to catch the second place getter but she held on, at the same time I was determined not to let anyone pass me down the final straight and nab the bronze medal from me.

Your coach Ian Babe tells me your performance has cemented you as one of the top three 800m females in your age group in NZ, is that exciting for you?

It is most definitely exciting and encouraging to know that you are doing well in your sport. Seeing my name not far from the top must mean that I am doing something right especially in an event which is highly competitive in the sport of athletics.

What is next on the calendar for you?

I am now training for the Interprovincial Competition in January and then the North Island Secondary Schools athletics champs being held in Masterton in April.