Auckland athletes keen for Usain Bolt
Up and coming athletics stars from Auckland are among those who will get to meet athletics legend Usain Bolt on Monday.
Joshua Hawkins, 18, (110m hurdles), Dalton Coppins, 17, (200m), Rochelle Coster 24, (100m hurdles) and 12-year-old Stella Pearless (800m, 400m) will get tips from Bolt at the AUT Millennium on Auckland's North Shore.
Pearless is the daughter of 1984 Olympian Peter Pearless.
The opportunity to train with Bolt is a rare thing in world athletics. He is arguably the greatest sprinter of all time, winning three gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and then creating history by defending all three - 100m, 200m and sprint relay - at this year's London games.
Bolt will be in Auckland for less than 24 hours as part of promotional activity for Gatorade and will also train with the Breakers basketball team, as they launch a sponsorship deal and meeting staff at Frucor Beverages.
"We want to thank Gatorade for bringing Usain Bolt to New Zealand," Athletics New Zealand chief executive Scott Newman said. "It's rare to have the chance to get close to such a world-class athlete and all those involved will benefit greatly from the experience."
Other athletes attending include Tauranga's Joseph Millar (100m, 200m), and Molly Florence (100m), who are both 100m national title holders. Millar won three golds at the 2012 NZ Champs and the 20-year-old is the fourth fastest New Zealand 100m sprinter of all time.
Kristie Baillie (400m, 200m) from Hamilton is also attending.
Millar's junior 4x100m relay times are parallel with Bolt's at the same age.
He told the Herald on Sunday: "I'm still quite amazed that it is going to happen to be honest. Once I heard he was coming here, I convinced myself that I would make it happen [to see him] but training with him will be unbelievable.
"I've been thinking about questions for ages but I still don't know what I am going to ask him. There will probably be so many things going through my brain."
Rotorua flyer Florence, 16, also won gold at this year's nationals in the 100m and is a member of the NZ women's 4x100m relay squad.
