Karori athlete in World Champs team

By Frank Neill

Karori athlete James Preston has been selected in the New Zealand team to compete in the World Athletics Championships in Budapest from 19 to 27 August.

One of 19 athletes named by Athletics New Zealand on 6 August, James will compete in the 800 metres.

His selection follows an impressive unbeaten campaign over the two-lap distance during the 202223 season.

As well as winning the New Zealand 800 metres championship, James was the victor in two international competitions.

He won the 800 metres at the Brisbane Track Classic on 25 March and at the Maurie Plant track and field meeting in Melbourne on 23 February.

James has a personal best of 1 minute 45.30 seconds for the 800 metres, and only two New Zealanders have run the distance faster, the famous Olympic gold medalists Peter Snell and John Walker.

James is one of two New Zealanders who will contest the 800 metres in Budapest.

The second is Brad Mathas who fought out a close battle with James in the New Zealand 800 metres championship on 3 March. There was just 0.08 seconds between them when they finished in the top two places.

Brad is an eight-time New Zealand champion over 800 metres and has a best time of 1 minutes 45.75 seconds which he set in June.

“Expectation will be high in Budapest, and we are confident the team will make New Zealand proud and with three games to play. perform to a high standard at the pinnacle event of the athletics year,” Athletics NZ High Performance Director Scott Newman says.

Miramar Rangers is uncharacteristically in eighth spot and the wheels have pretty much fallen off their own top four aspirations with a 3-2 home loss at the hands of Petone.

The playing roster at Miramar is still strong but the results have not followed form this season. In the other match in the round, Stop Out had a credible 3 all draw against the Wellington Phoenix Reserves.

James and Brad will join a team that includes the high performers Tom Walsh, Jacko Gill, Eliza McCarthy, Olivia McTaggart, Hamish Kerr and Zoe Hobbs.

Crofton Downs Primary School Enrolment / Ballot Information. For Terms 1&2 2024

The Board of Trustees invites applications from ‘out of zone’ parents who wish to enrol their children at Crofton Downs Primary School for 2024. Enrolment at the school is governed by an enrolment zone, details of which are available from the school office or at www.cdps.school.nz

Applications for out of zone places are now being invited for those students who will be eligible for enrolment in Terms 1 & 2 in 2024. Applications are to be submitted on the official enrolment form, which is available at the school office or online enrolment on the school website.

There are:

6 Out of Zone places available in NE / Year 1

Where there are more applications for enrolment than there are places available the Board is required to fill any vacant out of zone places by ballot. The deadline for receipt of applications for out-of-zone places is Monday 18 September at 12 noon.

If the number of out of zone applications exceeds the number of places available, selection will be by ballot. The ballot, if required, will be held on Wednesday 20 September under external supervision. All applicants will be notified by Friday 22 September

If you live within the home zone and have not yet signaled your intention to enrol your child, please contact the school office to assist us to plan appropriately for 2024.

If you would like a tour of our amazing little school please contact Justin Potter, Principal. (principal@cdps.school.nz)

Please contact the school office on 04 479 2429 for details regarding the enrolment process, or email office@cdps.school.nz