Race to the top for Jasper Moss
10 May 2021
Outstanding College middle-distance runner Jasper Moss is on a mission to represent his country after defying some opposition and lining up in the U19 800m at the South Island Secondary Schools’ Athletics Championships at Ngā Puna Wai.
Jasper – supported by Master in Charge of Athletics and leading coach Graeme Christey and Director of Sport Rob Clarke – had to fight for his right to start in the senior race, with no options for competitors in the AWD classification over the distance.
“Both Mr Christey and Mr Clarke – along with my Dad – have been incredibly strong supporters of my aspirations and have advocated for me,” Jasper says.
The Year 12 Somes House student says that AWD classification races over 800m are rare, hampering his chances of competing.
However, Jasper’s recent achievements put him on track for higher honours, with an AWD spot in the New Zealand team for the Oceania Championships firmly on his radar for next year.
Only a week before the South Island titles, Jasper set New Zealand records in both the 800m and the 1500m at the National Championships in Hastings, while representing Canterbury.
“College has a brilliant support structure for sport and encourages athletes to do as much as they can,” he says. “After my recent two minutes 35.8 seconds in the 800m, I want to race against the best and further test myself over both 800m and 1500m.”
Jasper also manages to find the time to play football at College, challenge himself in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award and achieve academically, with his eyes on a future career in law.
