Rookie weightlifter raising the bar

 

BY ROB POOLEY

While we have a number of prominent young athletes in our area, most are attached to team sports. But recently a new name that has emerged with prominence is that of 16-year-old Kayla Wray. 

Though Kayla had dabbled in netball and swimming, it was joining her parents for an exercise or two at Mangawhai’s FIT 365 crossfit gym that she found her niche in weightlifting. 

Kayla joined about two-and-a-half years ago and worked away quietly on a weekly programme, but it wasn’t till attending the NZ Secondary School competition in Whangarei last year that she really felt she could compete.

“She just seemed to be a natural,” said Mum Shanelle, and with her parents attending regular sessions there too it became something of a family affair encouraged by coaches Aaron and Jo McElwee. 

Crossfit is a mix of activities involving strength, cardio and gymnastics – all necessary elements when it comes to developing the technique necessary to lift big weights in different disciplines. 

As her ability became evident she was introduced to former Olympic lifter Tina Ball with whom Kayla now has regular coaching sessions. She trains five days a week with regular visits to her Auckland-based coach where she also rubs shoulders with Commonwealth gold medallist David Liti, so is certainly mixing in the right company.

She proved her competitive ability earlier in the year when placing third in the junior girls section at the Auckland Weightlifting Champs but early in September franked that form with another third placing in the women’s Under 69 kg class at the NZ Secondary Schools Weightlifting Champs at Albany, achieving three PBs including the 40kg snatch and 50kg  clean and jerk. This has come barely a year since she became serious about the sport.

Kayla is the only weightlifter at Rodney College so her success is testament to her dedication and self motivation to the strict routines.

Her next major competition will be the Rod Kennedy Classic in Auckland in December though long term Kayla has her sights on future Commonwealth and maybe even Olympic Games competition. While they may be lofty goals she is certainly heading in the right direction.

Kayla pictured with Auckland-based strength coach Tina Ball.