Waiōrea-Springs success at Auckland Weightlifting Champs!

At the end of May this year, we had two Ngā Puna o Waiōrea ākonga (students) – Dasan Paullay-Beazley (Year 11) and Puna Shortland-Theodore (Year 9) who represented Ngā Puna o Waiōrea-Western Springs College at the Auckland Secondary School Olympic Weightlifting Championships (hosted by College Sport & Weightlifting New Zealand at the Kolmar Recreation Centre in Papatoetoe). Four sessions were held throughout the day, with 53 students competing in their respective categories.

Congratulations to Dasan who placed 2nd (Silver medal) in the Mens 15- and 16-year-olds (by Sinclair total) in a tough field of 10 competitors from all around Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland – 63kg snatch and 81kg clean & jerk (144kg  total), just missing 85kg with a press out.

Congratulations also go to Puna who secured 3rd place (Bronze medal) in the Under 14s Boys Division, which was Puna’s first regional competition and his first time representing his kura at the Auckland Secondary Champs Weightlifting competition. Puna lifted a combined total of 90kg for the snatch and clean & jerk lifts! Puna was 12 years old when he started weightlifting last year in August at Papatoetoe Olympic Weightlifting Club.

[Photo credit: Genice Lynn Paullay-Beazley (mum of Dasan) and Suzy Shortland (mum of Puna)]