100m quarter-final, and finished 3rd in the 100m final at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Athletics Championships at Ngā Puna Wai. Despite an injury ruling the outstanding athlete out of the 200m final and hampering his 100m final run, AJ certainly made his mark, being named in the New Zealand representative team. In securing the triple jump title, AJ only needed two jumps to record 14.17m – well ahead of his rivals. “Running for New Zealand has been very special but the encouragement and support of Executive Principal Garth Wynne prior to that trip remain among my school highlights,” AJ says. “Definitely having a conversation with Mr Wynne before competing in Australia had an impact. His support and backing was so appreciated. He was very determined that I would get on the plane and do my best in Australia.” While AJ chases his own dreams, he has also taken on the role of coach, guiding the next generation of promising youth athletes at the Phoenix Athletic Club in Christchurch. He underlines the importance of “always giving back”, valuing the many opportunities during his time at College. “My personal highlights at College and as a member of Julius House are definitely being a part of so many opportunities, including the football team, tournaments in 2022 and 2023, and interhouse activities. Equally, I value my strong bonds and relationships with the boys at College. They have carried me through my
schooling and will be beneficial in the future as well. I have made good friends and have always felt supported by the College system.” On the academic side of school life, AJ has enjoyed Accounting, praising Teacher-in-Charge Jennifer Thomas for being a “big help in the classroom, and, in my final year, being very supportive of my future goals”. He plans to study Computer Science in the US and eventually become a software engineer while also coaching young athletes. Along with his many competitive achievements, AJ cites his “first time stepping into the College grounds in Year 9 for House activities” as a turning point in his life. “Bonding with those boys in Julius House and getting that first sense of what it was going to be like at College and the overall environment, that really set me up for the five years to come,” he says. To the next generation, AJ encourages new students to “keep your options open with subject choices, music, and sport, and never burn your bridges too early” as you need to stay open to all avenues when starting your journey.
“Running for New Zealand has been very special but the encouragement and support of Executive Principal Garth Wynne prior to that trip remain among my school highlights.”
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