AJ Madondo, 17, won the national senior triple jump title, set a personal-best (PB) 10.64sec in the 100m quarter-final, and finished 3rd in the 100m final at the 2023 New ZealandSecondary Schools Athletics Championships and Road Race at Ngā Puna Wai.
Despite an injury ruling the outstanding College athlete out of the 200m final and hampering his 100m final run, AJ still made his mark at the championships, being named in the New Zealand representative team. He was also awarded a travel grant to attend a major Athletics New Zealand event during the summer.
In securing the triple jump title, AJ jumped well ahead of his rivals, only needing two jumps to record 14.17m. Coach Matt Thatcher guided AJ to achieve these impressive performances in the event.
MiC Graeme Christey points out “To achieve a personal best is a significant achievement at any time, but to peak and achieve one in a championship event is very well done.”
