Athletic Club Creates National Stars!

Athletics is often called the foundation for all other sports through developing basic running, jumping and throwing skills. Roskill South Athletic Club who recently started their season in the grounds of Lynfield College is testimony to that statement.
 
As well as many of their athletes over the years going on to success nationally and internationally in athletics, many have taken their developed skills into other sporting codes with great success. The most recent example of this was in the Rugby Sevens teams at the Rio Olympics.
 
No less than six of the Rugby stars representing New Zealand came through Roskill South Athletic Club as children. There were the Ioane brothers, Reiko and Akira and Sonny-Bill Williams in the men’s team. Sonny-Bill needs no introduction and the Ioane’s are making their names well known with call-ups to the All Blacks recently.
 
In the women’s team in Rio previous Roskill South members included Theresa Fitzpatrick, Tyla Nathan-Wong and Niall Williams. Niall has young children currently in the club.
 
While enjoyment and the family-friendly nature of athletics provides an opportunity for children to get outdoors, exercise and have fun, it is easy to see the opportunities the sport can open up in other areas to excel and achieve greatness.
 
Club President Peter Wyatt says, “the enjoyment in being involved is in seeing the excitement when children achieve personal bests, running faster times, throwing or jumping greater distances than they have before”.
 
Roskill South Athletics meets at Lynfield College on Tuesday nights from 6pm and would welcome new members to join them. More information can be found on www.roskillathletics.com.