Congratulations to Grade 10 WAB Student Naomi W. for winning Gold and Silver in the Women’s Under 18 and Under 21 High Jump at the New Zealand National Athletics Championships on March 3!
Naomi is active in WAB’s track and field team and will also compete in upcoming APAC competitions. But in addition to her involvement in sports at WAB, Naomi is also enjoying considerable success as an athlete outside of school.
Naomi has been competing extensively at High Jump competitions in Asia and New Zealand for a number of years. Last October, Naomi attended the Chinese National Under 18 Athletics Championships in Huangshi. There, she picked up the bronze medal and became the first foreigner to compete in that competition.
This January she left Beijing for a month to take part in the World Continental Bronze Tour event in Christchurch, which ended with her gold and silver wins at the New Zealand National Athletics Championships.
“Under 18 was in the morning with a pool of about 10 competitors, including a guest from Tahiti. My main competitor can jump 1.78 which is 4 cm above my current best. In the end, I claimed the title with a jump of 1.73.
A few hours later I competed in the Under 20s a bit fatigued so I didn’t jump as high as I would have liked but still claimed silver. Overall I can’t complain about my results and even though I did not get a personal best I proved that I could perform on the day, which is what matters. I am hoping to continue to improve throughout the Asian season and I am excited to attend APAC and return to Chinese Nationals.”
Holistic education is at the heart of WAB and is reflected in the way we encourage and support students to pursue their interests both within and beyond the school.
“WAB truly lives our student-centered philosophy. We support students like Naomi in tailoring their learning and schedule to meet the needs and demands of their training. By helping them with their extracurricular activities, we hope to encourage students to reach their goals outside the classroom and continue striving for excellence,” said Michelle Chow-Liu, Head of HS Counseling.
Supporting our students to thrive through a holistic approach is also a key element of the IB program:
“At the center of all IB programs is the student. Both the IB and WAB are committed to the holistic development of our students and view opportunities to grow and pursue passions within and beyond the classroom as essential if we are to really ‘make a difference’,” said Scott Lindner, HS Curriculum Coach and DP Coordinator.
A massive congratulations to Naomi!