Local athletes strike gold

It’s a golden trifecta for our three Waimea athletes at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The ex-Waimea College students, Kelsey Smith, Anita McLaren (nee Punt) and Trael Joass have been competing on the Gold Coast this week, representing New Zealand in field hockey and rugby sevens. On Saturday, April 14, the New Zealand Women’s Hockey team won gold against Australia 4-1, securing the first ever Commonwealth Games gold in Womens Field Hockey for New Zealand.
Former junior Black Sticks rep, 23 year old Kelsey Smith, competed in the Rio summer Olympics and has thoroughly enjoyed the Commonwealth Games. “The games were tough, especially the one against England in the semi-final, the team gelled really well and everyone played their hearts out, and to get a gold medal was an amazing experience.”
For 30 year old Anita, this wasn’t her first rodeo, this is her third Commonwealth Games, competing in Delhi 2010, Glasgow 2014 and now Gold Coast 2018. She has also competed in two Olympic games, London 2012 and Rio 2016. Anita is one of the fastest hockey players in the world and the leading female international goal scorer of all time. During an interview with TVNZ after the gold-winning match over the weekend, Anita says she was so proud of all the girls, “we all worked really hard and kept fighting back. We wanted to do it for New Zealand. It feels amazing, hasn’t fully sunk in yet.” On Sunday, April 15, the New Zealand Men’s rugby sevens won their match against Fiji 14-0, securing another gold medal for New Zealand.
For the ex-Waimea College student Trael Joass, it would have been a dream come true. After suffering from heart murmurs since the age of 16 and undergoing heart surgery in 2014, during which time he thought his dream of being a professional rugby player was over.
The Wanderers Rugby Club player has risen through the ranks, playing 22 matches for Tasman Mako and captaining the team to their best sevens result in 2017, after which he made his All Black sevens debut in Sydney just weeks later.
Les Edwards, of the Tasman Rugby Union, says he is proud of all the athletes, “Trael is a standout mid-field back for his rugby club Wanderers and an integral part of the Mako over his three seasons. He is a strong runner and defender and has excellent leadership qualities.”
Waimea College principal Scott Haines says, “on behalf of the Waimea College community I want to warmly congratulate all the athletes and especially those who have history with Waimea College. It is great to see that they are living the school motto of Semper Contendite (Always Strive).”