Page 13 - Beyond_the_Classroom
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Hazel Stewart 1981
From 1969 class photo.
Hazel Stewart’s running career began in road races, but was forced to take two months off
1980 when she took up jogging to keep fit. with injuries.
It was a move to Auckland in 1981 that set She soon regained fitness and, in January
her running on the road to success. Hazel joined an 1983 was selected to represent New Zealand at
Auckland running club and later took part in club Japan’s International Road Relay race in March.
trials at Owairaka. Hazel was a member of a national women’s team
He ability did not go unnoticed - Arch Jellie, for that event.
who coached John Walker, spied Hazel and offered Just before her departure for Japan, Hazel
her a training schedule. notched up another success when she gained
Her coaching by Mr Jellie bought mixed second place in the Nike roller-coaster run in
success. In 1981 she was 12th at the National Cross Auckland.
Country Championships and, a year later, Shortly after Hazel’s return from Japan she
improved to fourth. sustained another injury and was unable to compete
Hazel followed that up with successes in trial until her recovery.
Chris Rogers 1982
When Chris Rogers was at High School
he was an outstanding athlete.
His talent for running has carried on from
those days, so that he began spoken of as a
promising young athlete with a ton of ability.
Chris attended Ngaruawahia High for three
years and left in 1977 to take up a career in
running.
He took on a part-time job with a Taupiri
farmer and trained for up to three hours a day
under coach Alan Middleton.
He set his sights on the Los Angeles
Olympics and runs 112km per day to get his
speed up to qualify.
In 1982 Chris, a 400m and 800m runner
was chosen to represent New Zealand at the
Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia.
He left New Zealand with the team but, ten
days before the games were due to start,
developed a stress fracture in his left leg and was
unable to compete.
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