Quinn joins trainers for games

Popular Wairarapa field events coach John Quinn has been appointed by Athletics New Zealand to their coaching staff for the Oceania under-18 track and field championships to be held at Olympic Park, Sydney, starting on March 11.
It is the first official ANZ appointment for Quinn and follows his huge list of age group successes at provincial and national level, with Wairarapa-based throwers such as the Fafeitas, Alex and Courtnay, Tim Girling-McLean, Josh Greig and Maria Taylor.
A prominent field exponent himself in his competitive days, Quinn has been coaching on a regular basis for the past 10 years or so and during the summer months, in particular, Friday is about the only day of the week when he is not actively involved in the coaching sphere.
Quinn said his busy life was indicative of the high profile given throwing events by the successes achieved by Olympic and world champion shot putter Valerie Vili.
''More and more athletes all over the country are wanting to become involved in the throws,'' Quinn said. Interestingly enough, it is the hammer throw which has ''really taken off'' in Wairarapa and Quinn concedes he himself is still very much in a learning phase as far as that discipline is concerned.
''It's a challenge but at the same time it's exciting. New challenges always are.''
Discus, shot put and javelin are other field events Quinn coaches on a regular basis and, while his day-to-day tasks at the Oceania championships _ which will double as the Australian junior championships _ have yet to be confirmed, he expects to be assisting the Kiwi throwers achieve their best performances, no matter what the discipline. ''I guess it will be all about keeping them focused on what they are doing and ensuring they compete to the highest possible standards.''
Representing Wairarapa on the track in Sydney will be Molly Creagh, who will race as an individual over 400m and will also be part of the Kiwi 4x400m relay squad.