NZ Academy of Sport – Central
Westpac Stadium, Waterloo Quay
MEDIA RELEASE
Athletes Identified For Bigger Things
World mountain running champion Melissa Moon will share her view from the top of the world with aspiring young athletes
in Wellington on Thursday.
Fresh from defending the world crown in snowy Alaska, Moon will speak at a breakfast to honour the 49 athletes from the
central region selected to join the New Zealand Academy of Sport’s (NZAS) 2003 carding programme. The NZAS, as an
integral part of the operations of Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC), is the cornerstone of New Zealand’s high
performance sports system.
Selected athletes have been identified by their national sports organisations as having the potential for high level
achievement. The NZAS carding programme gives them access to services including exercise physiology, sports medicine and
psychology, nutrition, and financial and careers advice. Athletes can also receive financial assistance with tertiary
study.
NZAS-Central – along with the North and South Island Academies – provides a base for the delivery of these services, a
place elite athletes and coaches can go for professional advice and assistance.
NZAS-Central will host the breakfast for athletes, stakeholders, business people and invited guests at the Academy
located in the Westpac Stadium. NZAS-Central chairman Sir Ronald Scott will welcome the athletes to the programme and
Sports Minister Trevor Mallard will present them with certificates recognizing their achievements and selection as
Academy athletes.
Among those selected for this year’s intake are Commonwealth Games hammer silver medalist Phil Jensen, New Zealand’s
third ranked woman squash player Tamsyn Leevey, and Black Sticks striker Kayla Sharland who has already achieved 12 caps
following selection this year.
Moon too has been an appreciative recipient of a number of services through NZAS-Central services over the past three
years.
“The Academy has helped me pursue my goal of becoming a World Champion. It’s provided me with access to massage and
podiatry in my health care, and enabled me to achieve balance in my life by furthering my education through the Prime
Minister’s Scholarship programme,” she said.
In welcoming the athletes on board, NZAS-Central chief executive John Dyer says to achieve success in the international
sports arena today an elite athlete’s talent and dedication must be supported by the latest in sports science, medicine
and technology.
“Athletes also need help balancing the increasing demands of competition, training, study, family and life in general.
That’s what the Academy is about. We have a dedicated group of people whose primary focus is making sure our athletes
and coaches get this support.”
Central Region 2003 Intake Athletes
Sport First Name Surname City
Athletics Philip Jensen Lower Hutt
Badminton Chris Lee Wellington
Basketball Tu Umaga-Marshall Petone
Basketball Megan Jones Hawera
Basketball Kim Wielens Wellington
Basketball Cassie Ngaia Lower Hutt
Basketball Paora Winitana Hastings
Basketball Darryl Jones Wellington
Basketball Michael Tompson Wellington
Basketball Megan Compain Wellington
Basketball James Paringatai Wanganui
Basketball Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe Wellington
Basketball Gina Farmer Wellington
Bowls Ben King Wellington
Bowls Sean Robertson Wellington
Cricket Simon Allen Wellington
Cricket Bevan Griggs Palmerston North
Cricket James Hill Wellington
Cricket Maia Lewis Wellington
Cricket Matthew Walker Waverley
Cricket James Franklin Wellington
Cycling Luke McCarthy Pahiatua
Equestrian Greg Best Hastings
Golf Aaron Leech Wellington
Golf Dimitrios Amos Wainuiomata
Hockey Kayla Sharland Palmerston North
Hockey Russell Gear Palmerston North
Hockey James Nation Wellington
Paralympics Kate Horan Wellington
Paralympics Chris Moore Palmerston North
Paralympics Maurice Toon Palmerston North
Rugby Tamati Ellison Wellington
Rugby Justin Wilson Wellington
Rugby Tafai Ioasa Wellington
Rugby Brett Goodin New Plymouth
Rugby Colin Bourke Napier
Rugby Serena Curtis Wellington
Rugby League Karl McNichol Wellington
Rugby League Samuel Tagataese Lower Hutt
Shooting Colin Farley Eketahuna
Softball Jim Wana Wellington
Squash Tamsyn Leevey Wellington
Swimming Nicole Goldsmid Feilding
Swimming Te Rina Taite Feilding
Triathlon Martin van Barneveld Wellington
Women’s Golf Olivia Hartley New Plymouth
Bowls Jessie Law Gisborne
Hockey Luke Gemming Wellington
Triathlon Amy-Kelly Horsfall Gisborne