College Sport: 2011 winner aiming at Rio Olympics

Joshua Hawkins in his specialist 110m hurdles event. Photo / Paul Taylor

Each week from now until the annual ASB YSPOTY awards function on November 28, we will profile past winners as we count down to the 25th annual event which honours the top young college sportspeople in the region.

Joshua Hawkins (Sacred Heart) 2011

Sacred Heart has produced some quality sprinters in recent times, such as Dalton Coppins and Bailey Stewart, but only one athlete from the Marist Brothers school -- Joshua Hawkins in 2011 -- has clinched the ASB supreme award.

Hawkins was always a prime candidate for his efforts at the World Youth Champs in France, where he won a silver medal in the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.44s. It was a tribute to all his hard work and his coach Joe Hunter.

"Unfortunately, I wasn't able to compete at the schools nationals that year due to an injury, but I remember the awards night very clearly. I was blown away to even be in to mix with all these other amazing athletes. It inspires me now to see where everyone else who was at the awards is now," said the Zimbabwean-born Hawkins.

Of course, the female gong that year went to golfer Lydia Ko, now the No 1 in the world, so Hawkins is right about the esteemed company he kept that night.

He still holds four Sacred Heart athletics records, dating back to juniors in 2008.

Though his specialist event is the 110m hurdles, where he is now the national champion, Hawkins also runs the 100m and 200m.

"The 110m hurdles is my main event but the other sprint events complement my hurdling and it's nice to do another event every now and then. Since leaving school my highlight has been getting the NZ 110m hurdles senior men record [13.69s] at the Australian track and field nationals in 2015. I was in a field of strong athletes and I managed to perform at such a high level."

Now 21 and still living in Auckland, Hawkins is clear about his short and medium-term goals.

"The next aim for me is to try gain qualification for the 2016 Olympic Games and attempting to run in 13s for the 110m hurdles at the senior height."