Laura Nagel (Recently 3rd in the Gold Coast Marathon 10km race in a time of 34min 25secs)

Age: 25

What is your paid job? Marketing and Communications Advisor at Sport Hawke’s Bay

Do you get paid for running? No, unless you count race winnings

Do you have any sponsors? Yes, New Balance.

How long have you done athletics and cross country? I started when I was 13 and started to get a lot more serious at the age of 15. Prior to that I hated it.

What was the scholarship you got for in the US?  How long were you there for?  What did you get out of it?  Would you recommend doing it?

I was on a full Scholarship for four years at Providence College. I ended up extending my stay for another two years (6 years total) to complete my MBA. So at the end of it I came away with a Bacheler of Science in Marketing and a Masters in Business Administration. The scholarship and the graduate assistant position I had covered tuition, room, board, food, etc. My school was also sponsored by New Balance so we were very well looked after by them – being with the team meant all my races, travel, and gear was paid for too.

I would highly recommend going. You just have to find the right school for you. Coming out debt free, meeting a whole lot of people and competing against some of the best athletes in the world – all paid for -  is pretty unbeatable. New Zealand doesn’t offer anything that matches that. 

Who is your role model?

Kim Smith – she became an awesome mentor for me when I was at Providence. She’s a machine, very low key when going about what she does and just tells it how it is.

Do you have a favourite quote?  What is it?

I go through phases with quotes. It just depends where I am at with life.  My current fav:

 “Your greatest runs are rarely measured by racing success. They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful life is.”

How many days a week do you train?

Every day – most days twice unless I have a long run of an easy day.

What is your biggest accomplishment in track or cross country?

Captaining my team to an NCAA Championships title in 2013. A lot of my individual titles don’t make my list of top accomplishments – they’re more the enjoyment I’ve had from races or the places a lower down the list that 1^st – I guess that’s why I like the above quote so much.

What are one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?

I respond very well to high mileage so that would be one and the other is just being consistent. The more I stay injury free and healthy, the better things get.

What is your biggest challenge, and what do you do to manage this challenge?

Moving home from Providence was a really hard decision for me to make. With that now comes my biggest challenge of not being in the same environment – back there I had an enormous amount of support from my coach and training partners. The hardest part now is that I’m doing that all on my own – my coach still coaches me from afar but no training partners and pretty much no assistance from Athletics NZ can be quite tricky. So I’ve just been focusing on enjoying the sport and staying in it. The last year I’ve been very close to calling it quits numerous times.

What is your favourite pre-competition food/meal?

Banana and honey on toast or Oatmeal with a range of nuts and fresh fruit.

What is your favourite post competition meal?

Ice Cream, Chocolate, Fried things – I always regret it afterwards because they usually make me feel sick.

Do you have another goal you are aiming for?  What is it?

At the moment I’m just focusing on getting better every week. I would love to qualify for Commonwealth Games but that right now seems quite far away. Next up is National XC, National Roads and then a more serious attempt at a Half Marathon at the Auckland Half in October. I love road racing so possible World Half Marathon Champs could be on the cards. 

Georgia Hulls won the Secondary School Female Athletics Athlete of the Year 2016. An awesome achievement so I was interested to find out a little more about her. Here is a short profile of her:

Name: Georgia Hulls

Age: 17

Job: (Do not have a job)

How long have you done athletics? 11 years

Athletics events: 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay

Role model: Eliza McCartney and Jess Ennis

Favourite quote: “we are the choices we make”

How many times do you train per week? 6 times plus 2 gym

Best accomplishment: 10th World Youth 200m 

Keys to success: detailed planning and high work ethic

Challenges: time management and having a balanced life 

Pre Comp meal: Pasta

Post Comp meal: Steak

Next goal: Australian Juniors 2017 and World Juniors 2018

Guy Harrison won the Secondary School Disabled Athlete of the Year 2016

Name: Guy Harrison

Age: 15

Do you have a job? Yes, works for Maraenui Golf Club

How long have you done athletics? 6 years

Who is your role model? Usain Bolt

Do you have a favourite quote? 'Keep going, don’t ever give up'

How many days a week do you train? 6

What is your biggest accomplishment in athletics?

NZ Open Mens’ Para 1500 and 800m record holder

NZ Track and Field Champ Para 1500m Gold and 800m Silver

NZ Secondary Schools Para Cross Country, 400m and 2Km Road Race Champion

What are one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success? Supporting my running with mileage in the pool and Squad training

What is your biggest challenge, and what do you do to manage this challenge?

Shorted muscles which cause pain and I have to run on my toes. Through stretching, deep tissue massage and a ‘Pain Management vibrating machine’

What is your favourite pre-competition food/meal? Snake lollies

What is your favourite post competition meal? Ice Cream

Do you have another goal you are aiming for? 2020 Paralympics and single figure golf handicap (on 11 presently)

Nick Palmer won the Secondary School Male Athletic Athlete 2016

Name: Nick Palmer

Age: 16

Do you have a job? Student

How long have you done athletics? 5 years, but seriously for 2 years

Which events do you enter? Shotput and Hammer

Who is your role model? My Grandfather George Palmer, Muhammad Ali

Do you have a favourite quote? “Don’t push the river it flows by itself”“Don’t quit, suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion”

How many days a week do you train? 6 days

What is your biggest accomplishment in athletics? Hawkes Bay Secondary Schools Male Athletic Athlete 2016

What are one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success? Maximum effort always putting in 100%. Never take the easy road.

What is your biggest challenge, and what do you do to manage this challenge? My own expectations. I make sure I keep smiling no matter what.

What is your favourite pre-competition food/meal? Poached eggs with mince on cheese covered croissant and spinach

What is your favourite post competition meal? Anything edible

Do you have another goal you are aiming for? To be the best.

Briana Stephenson who won the Secondary School Female Netball Player of the year 2016 and Secondary School Supreme Award 2016

Name: Briana Stephenson

Age: 17

Do you have a job? Yes I work casually for Orton catering and I have a summer job at an apple orchard.

How long have you done athletics for? 11 years, but 7 years seriously.

Who is your role model? Kayla Cullen, Usain bolt, Derek Drouin

Do you have a favourite quote? 'Today you are you that is truer than true, there is no one alive who is youer than you''If you want it, work for it''I believe in working for what you want. Nothing should be easily given. It has no value that way.'

How many days a week do you train? 6 days a week, including the gym with the occasional double up.

What is your biggest accomplishment in athletics? Double gold at Australian junior champs in high jump and long jump.

What are one or two key things you do at training that are key to your success? 100% pushing myself and listening to my body.

What is your biggest challenge? What do you do to manage this? At the moment my injury so taking every training one step at a time, listening to my body and knowing my limits but ultimately, life balance.

What is your favourite pre competition meal? Mums chicken, mushroom pasta.

What's your favourite post competition meal? Medium rare steak.

Do you have another goal you are aiming for? Junior worlds 2018, break the New Zealand secondary schools senior girls long jump record in 2017