Ruby claims South Island jumps double
Golden Bay athlete Ruby Darwen out leapt her secondary school rivals at the Saxton Athletic Track. Photo: Stephen Stuart.
Jumps specialist Ruby Darwen struck gold twice at the South Island Secondary School Athletics Champs over the weekend.
She launched her campaign in the U16 long jump on Saturday and comfortably won with a best leap of 5.34 metres.
“That was just a centimetre under my personal best. “I felt I jumped really consistently,” enthuses Ruby.
She backed up in the triple jump and recorded a new personal best of 11.10m despite a few problems on the runway.
“I was glad to get on the board after two no jumps in a row. I wasn’t quite as springy today,” says the Takaka teenager who also finished fourth in the U16 girls 200m at the Saxton Athletics Track.
There was also triple jump success for Beau Buurger in the U14 boys grade. The Motueka High School student leapt 11.26m to land gold.