Masterton teen wins silver

"Guts would have to be his second name."
That's how Masterton athletics coach Mark Harris sees Rathkeale College pupil George Hewitt, who picked up a silver medal in the AWD (athletes with disability) section at the national secondary schools cross-country championships in Ashburton last weekend.
"He just doesn't know the meaning of give up, he'll literally run until he drops," Harris said of Hewitt, 15, after he had placed second over a testing 2000m course in 11m 22s, well inside his previous best effort of 13m.
Up until his Ashburton placing Hewitt's best efforts had come on the track where he has achieved several notable successes in age-group competition at inter-provincial and national levels, but Harris was not surprised that he adapted to the cross-country terrain. "You know he will always give it his best shot, nothing really seems to faze him."
Team Wairarapa has organised an impressive list of coaches for a training camp at St Matthew's Collegiate from July 22 to 24.
They include Brent Ward from Dunedin, a sprints specialist who coached the fastest New Zealand-born athlete over 100m, Chris Donaldson, Mick Cull from Hawke's Bay, who specialises in middle distance running, jumps coach Ed Fern and noted throwing coach Matt Dallow.