On a day where the weather—in particular, the wind—couldn't make up its mind, a plucky group of Rolleston College learners and their enthusiastic famiies descended on Aorangi Park in Timaru for the first day of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships.

The day got off to a cracker start with year 9 standout Luke Angland qualifying for the semi-finals of the junior boys' 800m. This was no mean feat for Luke, who earlier this year won the 1500m-3000m double at the South Island championships. He drew a fast heat and placed fourth in a swift 2:06.92 to get the "little q".

Luke will contest the 1500m heats tomorrow morning before taking on the 800m semi-final just after 3pm.

Zoe Hooper was third in her junior girls' 200m heat in 27.26s, a season's best time, and an automatic qualifier for the semis tomorrow afternoon. She will also compete in the junior girls' 100m tomorrow afternoon.

Zoe (#577) in the 200m.

Eli Craig was also third in his junior boys' 200m heat, in 24.53s and a "big Q". Eli achieved a personal best in the boys' long jump later this afternoon, leaping out to 5.66m in the second round, for tenth in a huge field of 26 boys. Eli's 200m semi-final will be just after 5pm tomorrow.

Eli (left) in the 200m heats.

Taylan Endicott-Davies was an imposing figure in the junior boys' shot put, recording three legal throws (9.86m, 9.75m, 10.21m) but couldn't find his groove to make the top eight, finishing thirteenth. His favoured hammer throw is at 4:15pm tomorrow, and we are looking forward to it!

Worth noting that the junior boys' shot weighs five kilograms.

Rolleston College fielded three senior girls in the 200m event, with Sophie Warren placing fifth in her heat, less than an hour after running the 400m. Sophie Mercer was second in her heat with an automatic qualifier for the semi-finals tomorrow afternoon, and Eden Innes placed fourth in hers to earn a "little q".

Eden (#578) in her 200m heat.

As if Sophie Warren didn't have enough on her plate, the girls all teamed up for the senior 4x100m relay heats at the end of the day. Their relay efforts earlier this year at the South Island championships earned them the title, and the director of sport's moment of the year at our sports awards, so we admit we had high hopes going into these heats.

The girls did not disappoint, winning the first heat convincingly in a nifty 49.69s, and head into the final ranked second. The relay final will take place on Sunday afternoon.

Sophie Mercer (lefts) hands off to Sophie Warren.

We are incredibly grateful to the parents and families of these young athletes for their ongoing support!

Read our day two and three wrap-up here.

For full results, head to AthleticLive.