High hopes for region's athletes

Wairarapa should provide a decent medal haul at the New Zealand track and field championships being held in Dunedin over the weekend.
Eighteen athletes from this region will be part of a powerful line-up representing the Wellington centre and several of them are going south with credentials which suggest they will press hard for major placings in their respective events.
It is in the 16yrs and under section where Wairarapa are expected to make their biggest impact on the medal chart.
Realistic chances for a gold medal are Tim Girling-McLean (shot put), Alex Fafeita (hammer throw) and Stevie Paine (800m) and it would be no surprise if Tom Quinn (800m) and Laura McKenna (100m and 200m) went very close to securing gold as well.
Another Wairarapa athlete, George Hewitt, seems sure to feature prominently over 200m and 400m in the AWD (athletes with disability) section.
Those from Wairarapa to qualify for the nationals are:
SENIOR: Men's shot put: Josh Greig, Jerry Peseta. Women's discus: Courtenay Fafeita. Women's hammer throw: Courtenay Fafeita.
19YRS AND UNDER: Men's 200m: William Simpson. Men's shot put: Josh Greig, Dennis Peseta, Jerry Peseta. Men's discus: Josh Greig, Jerry Peseta, Dennis Peseta. Hammer throw: Alex Fafeita. Women's discus: Courtenay Fafeita. Women's hammer throw: Courtenay Fafeita.
16YRS AND UNDER: Boys 800m: Tom Quinn, Joel Farley, Kurtis Paine. Boys shot put: Tim Girling-McLean. Boys discus: Tim Girling-McLean, Alex Fafeita. Boys hammer throw: Alex Fafeita. Girls 100m: Sian Chapman, Laura McKenna. Girls 200m: Sian Chapman, Laura McKenna. Girls 400m: Molly Creagh, Mikayla Pearson. Girl's 800m: Stevie Paine. Girls shot put: Katie Smith. Girls discus: Maria Taylor. Girls hammer throw: Maria Taylor.
AWD (athletes with disability): Boy's 200m: George Hewitt. Boy's 400m: George Hewitt